The Cook Islands' sacked parliamentary clerk was put under undue pressure over extensions to the Parliament building, says the Cook Islands Opposition.
Tangata Vainerere - the former clerk of the Cook Islands Parliament. Photo: Parliament of the Cook Islands
Cooks' Democrats go into bat for sacked clerk of Parliament
Tangata Vainerere was dismissed this week after revelations of a huge cost overrun with the extension work costing 50 percent more than was budgeted.
He faced particular criticism for not putting the work out to tender.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Tina Browne said Mr Vainerere was under pressure to get the work done in time for the December parliamentary session - a date he ended up missing.
"He did not put it out on tender because that would have taken a wee while to try and sort and probably would have incurred further delay. We don't know that.
"I also wonder whether, with the $NZ300,000 that he was given, that he had enough money to pay for the matter to be tendered out."
Ms Browne said when Parliament meets at the end of this month it will be the first session in the extended debating chamber.
Cook Islands Democratic Party leader, Tina Browne Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party