POLITICAL REVIEWS 457

SaHu, Yaw. 1993. A Current Example of tainty. The national general election Policy-Making on the Trot in Papua New took place on 26 May 1993. Seats in Guinea. Paper presented at Pacific Islands each of the 47 constituencies through­ Political Studies Association conference, out the country were contested by Rarotonga, 5 December. some 280 candidates. The state of Togarewa, Neville. 1993a. Lihir a "Goer." uncertainty lasted for some time after PC, 24 May, II. the results were announced over na­ tional radio. 's --. 1993b. Government Sets Saturday party of National Unity won the most Deadline for Talks on Lihir. PC, 29 July, 3. seats, but with only 21 of the total of47 --. 1993c. 50 pct Equity Decision Is it did not have a clear majority. Of the Final. pc, 13 August, 5I. other parties, the People's Alliance Party led by won 7 TPNG, Times ofPapua New Guinea. Weekly. Port Moresby. seats; the new National Action Party of (Francis Saemala) and the United Party () won 5 each; the Labour Party (loses Tuha­ SOLOMON ISLANDS nuku) won 4; the National Front for New Year's Eve 1992 brought havoc to Progress () and the new the southeastern parts of Solomon Solomon Islands Leaders Fellowship Islands as Cyclone Nina passed (Reverend Michael Maeliau) won 2 through. Parts ofMalaita, South each; and 1 was won by an indepen­ , , Temotu, and dent (). A coalition Rennell and Bellona were devastated. government had to be formed. For the people in these islands, a sea­ Uncertainty and political specula­ son of celebration and reflection tion were fueled by strong indications became overnight a time ofdisaster that veteran politician and incumbent and lost hopes. Homes and schools had Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni to be rebuilt, new gardens had to be and his party might lose their parlia­ cleared, and short-term assistance was mentary majority. The first sign of necessary. The much-needed assistance impending doom for Mamaloni came was given promptly when the whole with the election for Speaker of the nation pitched in and, with some help House, which was held a few weeks from other governments and organiza­ after the general election and before tions, pledged SI$L5 million toward the that for the new prime minister. In the government's rehabilitation program election for the Speaker, the two con­ (ss, March 1993). As in the aftermath tending groups, the Government for ofother natural disasters, Solomon National Unity led by Mamaloni and Islanders looked to the future with the National Coalition Partnership optimism as they rebuilt their homes, group whose leader was yet to be churches, and schools, and hoped for named, fielded their respective candi­ better fortune in the year to come. dates. Waita Ben, who was then Another kind ofstorm-a political Speaker, was the nominee ofthe Gov­ one-was awaited with equal uncer- ernment for National Unity, and Paul THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1994

Tovua, who had just lost his Malango and became the leader ofthe indepen­ (central Guadalcanal) constituency dent group in Parliament. In this sec­ seat, was nominated by the National ond term, he became deputy prime Coalition. When Paul Tovua was minister and served as minister for the elected Speaker, political gurus were Ministry ofHome Affairs in a coalition left with little doubt that, if the coali­ government led by . In tion (especially its new members) held August 1981, Hilly resigned from the together and survived the intense lob­ coalition, serving as an ordinary mem­ bying, political intrigue, and wantok ber, and did not seek reelection in the manipulations that characterized the 1984 elections. Instead, he successfully period leading to the election for prime ran in the Western Province elections minister, it would have a chance to lead and became president of the Western the next government. When the votes Provincial Assembly. In 1989, he ran for prime minister were counted, Ma­ unsuccessfully for the National Parlia­ maloni's party for National Unity was ment. At the time ofthe elections in ousted by the narrowest margin since May 1993, he was running a family independence-24 votes to 23. On 18 business. June, a new government was formed, One ofthe chief aims ofthe parties led by the 45-year-old member for that made up the coalition was to oust and Simbo, the Honourable Mamaloni's strong Government of Francis Billy Hilly. National Unity, and they closed ranks The new coalition government con­ to do it. Among other matters, such as sists ofthe existing parties-Peoples' allegations of corruption, the Mama­ Alliance Party, United Party, Labour loni government appeared to have Party, National Front for Progress­ allowed prime land sites in and around and the independent member, plus two the capital to be bought and occupied new parties-the National Action by foreign investors. Eager to change PaIty ofthe Solomon Islands and the the situation, and guided by their new Solomon Islands Leaders Fellowship. vision and new policies, the coalition (Though a political anomaly, the last was determined to lead the country and insisted it not be called a political carry the developmental trajectory in a party.) different direction. Though Hilly was new as prime The new government led by Francis minister, a post dominated by Solomon Billy Hilly did not acquire political Mamaloni or Sir Peter Kenilorea since power without having its mettle tested 1974, he was not a novice in politics. and its unity shaken. From the begin­ After a Bachelor's degree from the Uni­ ning, the Mamaloni camp gave clear versity ofthe South Pacific and almost indications that power would not be two years of employment with the gov­ yielded easily; a catalogue of election ernment and the Solomon Trading petitions was lodged in the High Court Company, Hilly entered politics in and political horse-trading ensued. The June 1976 as member ofParliament for election petitions included one by Ranongga and Simbo. He was returned Mamaloni himself, challenging the for a second term in the 1980 elections legality ofHilly's majority and that his POLITICAL REVIEWS 459 election as prime minister was uncon­ ofreforms as well as immediate and stitutional (sv, Oct 1993). The High long-term priorities. The immediate Court settled in favor of Hilly. As if goals include investigation into corrup­ this were not enough, Dennis Lulei, tion, malpractice, and abuse ofpower; leader of the Alliance Party in Parlia­ establishment of a new national plan­ ment and new minister for education, ning strategy; effective control and use was terminated by the coalition leaders of government assets and utilities; for insurbordination after challenging review ofpermanent secretaries; the government's leadership and deci­ review ofthe taxing regimes; review of sions. And Allan Paul resigned from the provincial establishments; conven­ the Hilly government but later decided ing ofeconomic, religious, and youth to rejoin. summits; reengagement of doctors who Despite these wrangles, things had earlier resigned; formulation of a seemed to be settling down as months new foreign assistance policy; and passed and most of the petitions to the review and assessment of Solomon High Court failed, and the coalition's Islands' overseas representation. A position appeared much more secure. ministerial consultative committee will Because of the nature ofpolitics in monitor the implementation ofthese Solomon Islands, where allegiance can policies. change overnight, a former member of The long-term goals include self­ the Government of National Unity, reliance, decentralization, and im­ Walter Folotalu, accepted the portfolio provement of government services left vacant by the withdrawal ofDennis around the country. The economic pol­ Lulei to become minister ofeducation. icy ofthe government is designed to A successful petition against the mem­ promote self-reliance. Importantly, ber for East , the Honourable government assistance to rural areas is Charles Dausabea (a spokesman for guided by the principle of self-reliance the Government ofNational Unity and is not viewed as a government group and a staunch supporter of Solo­ handout. The decentralization strategy mon Mamaloni), alleging illegality of involves maximizing linkages to the voting practices, further strengthened rural masses and requires the develop­ the coalition's position. At the end of ment of a new decentralizing formula the year, it was again strengthened by to allow a more direct and meaningful the approval ofthree additional minis­ sharing ofideas, powers, and responsi­ tries during the December sitting of bilities with traditional leaders and Parliament, and the Mamaloni camp resource owners (villagers who are seemed resigned to their defeat, if not landowners) throughout the country. exhausted. All ofthese power struggles Hilly's government recognizes the took up a good six months, which the importance ofthe resource owners to government could have put to better the country and believes they should be use in serving the country and its afforded maximum benefits from their people. resources. On the domestic front, the coalition In support ofits goal to improve government's policies include a number government services, the coalition gov- -lW..&biii*WA.9mIiEMSWJII,4t¥@§A§'P#@tit4U gg;; M4h Hlf,.

THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1994

ernment hopes to improve and expand closed down and replaced with a peace health services and to implement an office. (3) to encourage the convening open education policy that should ofthe proposed pan-Bougainville lead­ allow maximum access to schools. ers' conference as a necessary avenue The Hilly government places great for a meeting of minds from the differ­ importance on state-church relations ent sides on Bougainville; (4) to restore and the need to strengthen this link. normal services on the Solomons side The government has announced it will of the border, including immigration provide assistance to the churches, for and customs control; (5) to establish an example in the training of their leaders, honorary consulate in Port Moresby as and will encourage the churches to take a center for bilateral discussions an active role in linking the govern­ between Solomon Islands and Papua ment to the rural communities. The New Guinea. This office will also cater government also sees the state and the for the interests of Solomon Islanders churches as the most important agen­ living in Papua New Guinea. (6) to cies ofdevelopment, and hopes that work toward the establishment of a close state-church relations will result proper border treaty with Papua New in greater participation by Solomon Guinea (5N, July-Aug 1993). Islanders in the political process. Beside the attempt to restore Papua The chief thrust of the new Solomon New Guinea-Solomon Islands rela­ Islands foreign policy can be character­ tions, especially with an eye to working ized by the slogan, Friendship by Reci­ together to resolve the Bougainville cri­ procity. Central to this approach is an sis, the government has also pledged to emphasis on the use of foreign assis­ increase dialogue with regional and tance for economic development. A global friends in order to renew friend­ beginning will be made through recon­ ship and gain respect and support. A ciliation with foreign governments. new foreign policy paper will be intro­ Particular importance is attached to duced to iay the foundation for further­ Papua New Guinea, with whom pre­ ing Solomon Islands' image and integ­ vious relations had soured, especially rity overseas, and relations with all over the Bougainville crisis and the overseas donors will be improved. spillover effects when three Solomon After taking office, the government Islanders were killed in September decided to slowly phase out logging, to 1992. The coalition government pro­ encourage local processing oflogs, and duced a six-point initiative to aid in to conserve forest resources. To effect resolving the Bougainville debacle: (I) its policy on timber and forest re­ to normalize relations with Papua New sources, the coalition would place a Guinea through dialogue rather than moratorium on the granting oflicenses confrontation; (2) to restore respect for to logging companies, effective early in the laws, customs, and immigration 1994 (55, July 1993). A lot had gone regulations of Solomon Islands that wrong with forest exploitation in the have been violated since the beginning country. For instance, the permanent ofthe border problem. The Bougain­ secretary for the Ministry ofNatural ville Humanitarian Office is to be Resources had revealed that the coun- POLITICAL REVIEWS try was losing SI$15 million a year from economies and trade ofmember coun­ underpricing of its timber exports. tries, is expected to be an economic Companies operating in the Solomons milestone in the relations between the achieved this through collaboration member countries ofthe Melanesian with overseas companies. Not only did Spearhead Group. Each country will landowners lose money, but the gov­ export products in which they have a ernment also lost revenue because of competitive advantage. The countries undertaxation. For example, the gov­ presently involved are Papua New ernment had to ask Kalena Timber Guinea, Vanuatu, and Solomon Company to pay SI$900,000 in under­ Islands, but others such as Fiji and stated duties and royalties (sv, April Kanaky (New Caledonia) could be 1993). In other cases, many of the included if they wished. Under such an Asian companies operating in the arrangement, Vanuatu beef could be country did not follow the legal proce­ exported to Solomons and Papua New dures required by the Forest Resource Guinea; Solomons tuna to Papua New and Timber Utilization Act. Some were Guinea and Vanuatu, and so on. operating on lands not covered by their In education, the World Bank ap­ permits and licenses (ss, Jan 1993). proved us$16.9 million (approximately Other coalition government policies SI$52 million) for the construction of are influenced by cost-containment more secondary schools in the country. measures. Soon after the new govern­ The Implementation Project Unit in the ment took office, it decided to suspend Ministry ofEducation is to be respon­ construction ofthe new State House, sible for the different phases ofthe pro­ contracted to be built for SI$15 million, ject. The process will be slow and cau­ which it claimed would be a burden on tious to avoid the misappropriation of the government's purse. Individuals or funds or bungling of contracts that companies adversely affected would be happened with an earlier World Bank compensated accordingly. The perma­ project in the mid-1980s. The Honiara nent secretary positions that had been Town Council established an innova­ contracted out by the Mamaloni gov­ tive program to absorb Standard 6 ernment were revoked in October (ss, dropouts so that they can be taught the Oct 1993) and were reestablished under basic skills they will need in the work­ the normal public service employment place. Essentially, middle schools will structure. For the new positions, sixty­ provide an alternative avenue for these seven applicants vied for fifteen vacan­ students; it has yet to be decided cies. Most ofthe former permanent whether these schools will form a secretaries were rehired, with only four bridge to get the students back into the ofthem unsuccessful. Permanent secre­ main stream of schooling, toward tary salaries, placed on a permanent advanced studies. basis instead ofcontractual employ~ The long-running dispute between ment, were reduced from sl$60,000 to the national doctors and the govern­ $43,000 a year (ss, Oct 1993). ment finally came to an end in Octo­ The proposed Melanesian Trade ber. Prime Minister Hilly personally Bloc, whose objective is to improve the invited the doctors to discuss the condi- "GWmiWMlij@i!@'I't!%\flfGlMJI€QPA,.' .'.410"$91 if!HttfM,.",,· Me

THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1994

tions ofthe new contract with him. Dr In line with the emphasis on state­ Quan, a spokesperson for the doctors, church relations, Provincial Premier later informed S%man Voice that they Mathias Ramoni ofMakira encour­ were happy with the new contract, aged the churches to establish schools which if implemented would for the in his province. Speaking during cele­ first time place them among the most brations ofthe tenth anniversary ofthe highly paid professionals in the country province, the Honourable Ramoni (5V, Sept 1993). With an improved pay commended the Anglican, Catholic, package of between 51$30,000 and South Seas Evangelical, and Seventh $60,000 (5N, April-May 1993), the Day Adventist Churches for running doctors were required to take up the the schools in the province. In addition new offer and resume work no later to the primary schools, the churches than 29 October (55, Oct 1993). operate some vocational and pre-theo­ In March, history was made when logical colleges, an example being the John Muria became the first indige­ Stuvenberg Rural Training Centre in nous chief justice ofthe Solomons. East Makira. The South Seas Evangeli­ From Guadalcanal, Muria was edu­ cal Church proposed to establish a sec­ cated at the Catholic St Joseph's Sec­ ondary school. The premier highly ondary School in Honiara and the Uni­ commended this kind ofinitiative (55, versity ofPapua New Guinea, from Oct 1993). which he graduated in law in 1979. He The Tourist Authority collaborated had worked for a short time in Papua eagerly with Dr Robert Ballard ofthe New Guinea and was a public solicitor United States National Geographic in Honiara before his appointment. He Society on his book, The Lost Ships of is 37 years old and married with three Guada/cana/, in the hope offinding out children. whether Iron Bottom Sound (a major A well-known anthropologist who Second World War battle site) might did extensive work among the Kwaio eventually become a vast underwater people on , Professor Roger museum. As the general manager ofthe Keesing, died on 7 May during an aca­ Tourist Authority predicted, "We are demic meeting in Toronto. His ashes sitting on a gold mine ifonly we can were taken to the Solomons by his turn technology and vision to Solomon partner, Christine Jourdan, and his Islands' advantage." He was very opti­ children and buried at Ngarinasuru, mistic: "The international exposure for Malaita (55, Aug 1993). us is priceless. This is right next to In September, the Solomon Brewery Honiara and suddenly Dr Ballard is was officially opened by Governor putting us on the world map" (5V, Oct General Sir George Lepping. The 1993)· brewery is owned partly by the Ger­ Overall, the political wranglings man company Brachaus and partly by and delayed implementation ofthe new Nauruan interests. Dignitaries from policies ofthe Hilly government, which Nauru, Brachaus, and the government are innovative and pragmatic in many were present at the official opening cer­ ways, made the overall achievements emony (55, Sept 1993). ofthe country seem slow and few. But POLITICAL REVIEWS given the complexity ofthe country his responsibilities by transferring and the many hurdles the new govern­ external trade to the new economic ment had to overcome, 1993 may be affairs ministry (PR, Jan 1993; VW, regarded as a year ofpreparation for 9 Jan 1993, I). the Hilly government to start with a In the course ofthe year Korman clean slate in 1994. carried forward his foreign affairs responsibilities with reasonable suc­ JOHN MOFFAT FUGUI MIKE WATE cess. He consolidated relations with France, and developed links with New Caledonia, including by opening a con­ References sulate in Noumea in April. But France maintained a relatively cautious 55, Solomon Star. Weekly. Honiara. approach, notwithstanding the hopes 5V, Solomon Voice. Weekly. Honiara. of some UMP supporters, and the fears 5N, Solomon Nius. Government monthly. Honiara. of some critics ofthe French presence in the region, and despite the return to power ofthe conservatives in the French elections in March. Korman VANUATU and his government also maintained Maxime Carlot Korman's government harmonious relations with Australia, retained office during 1993, despite ten­ Vanuatu's leading aid donor, avoiding sions between the coalition partners, a recurrence ofthe tensions that had Korman's Union ofModerate Parties twice arisen in 1992 (Fry 1993, 396, 399; (UMP) and the National United Party Henningham 1993, 427). Australia's (NUP). These tensions, combined with Minister for Development Assistance those within the coalition parties, and the Pacific Islands' Gordon Bilney repeatedly distracted attention from visited Vanuatu in June and described problems of economic management bilateral relations as "good and and development. improving" (vw, 19 June 1993, 5). In Prime Minister Korman began the addition, the Korman government year with a ministerial reshuffle, the sought to develop and consolidate first since his government took office in Vanuatu's external relations more December 1991, intended to consoli­ widely, with some success. date his position and to rein in two IfVanuatu's external relations were ministers whose conduct had been generally constructive and serene dur­ capricious. Korman took over the for­ ing 1993, this was not true ofdomestic eign affairs portfolio from his leading affairs. Walter Lini's National United rival within the Union ofModerate Party proved anything but united. Its Parties, Serge Vohor, shifting him to internal problems had unsettling effects the new post ofminister for eco- on the governing coalition, as did ten­ nomic affairs. He made his move sions between anglophone-educated while Vohor was on an official visit and francophone-educated ni­ to Noumea. He retained Willie Jimmy Vanuatu. During the course ofthe year .as minister for finance, but reduced Lini repeatedly demanded that Korman