Letter: $50 Xmas bonus versus MPs’ $5k clothing allowance

Dear Editor, The front-page story this week reporting on the $50 Christmas ‘Bonus’ for Cook Islands beneficiaries is good news but one wonders just how self-satisfied our Members of Parliament are feeling for this most generous gift?

These Parliamentarians, on a week’s notice, can pull $640,000 out of a hat for a Tiki Tour for their mates but can’t return more than $50 of our own money to spice up the holidays?

Can our ‘honourable’ members remind themselves of the $5000 annual “clothing allowance” that they receive? Well, if the ill-fitting Warehouse off the rack suits that we see in photos are any indication, that’s not going on clothes but just in the pocket and that must be a “Bonus”.

$5000 for them and $50 for the Mamas and the Papas. $5000 x 24 equals $120,000. So, yes, Members of Parliament, pat yourselves on the back when you walk by the BCI and see the old folks waiting on line to pick up their Bonus while you walk down the road to spend your Bonus.

(Name and address supplied)