Published: 7:46AM Saturday May 12, 2012 Source: ONE News <\/p>\n
Sir Geoffrey Henry - Source: ONE News <\/p>\n
The state funeral of former Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry has been held today. <\/p>\n
The 71-year-old, who served as prime minister for 10 years, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday. <\/p>\n
He became leader of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) in 1979 after his cousin Albert Henry was forced to resign over using Government money to fly in voters from New Zealand. <\/p>\n
Sir Geoffrey remained leader of the party until 2006 and was twice prime minister of the Cook Islands - for seven months in 1983, and again from 1989 until 1999. <\/p>\n
He resigned as prime minister in July 1999 rather than face the break-up of the CIP due to party dissidents who opposed both his leadership and the nation's growing debt of more than $100 million. <\/p>\n
Desperate to raise funds, Sir Geoffrey issued letters of guarantee for (US) $1.1 billion. <\/p>\n
New Zealand was forced to step in and implement harsh measures in order to stop the country from going bankrupt. An independent report found that the Cook Islands were a gullible victim in a fraud which could have cost the nation all of its assets. <\/p>\n
Despite the turmoil, Sir Geoffrey will be remembered for his support behind the Cook Islands protest against French nuclear testing and his fierce nationalism. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Former Cook Islands PM Sir Geoffrey Henry farewelled<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published: 7:46AM Saturday May 12, 2012 Source: ONE News Sir Geoffrey Henry - Source: ONE News The state funeral of former Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry has been held today. The 71-year-old, who served as prime minister for 10 years, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday Continue reading