POLITICAL REVIEW • POLYNESIA pressed dismay at the Senate's unprece­ Paramount ChiefMauga's ardent dented failure to approve a traditional opposition to popular election ofthe high chief for this job, but ill feeling Senate, even though his own confirma­ between Mauga and Senate members tion hearings had spurred Coleman to had predisposed a majority to vote advocate reform. against him. Mauga had made dis­ The controversial visit of US Vice paraging remarks during his confirma­ President Dan Quayle in April 1989 tion hearings, apparently perturbed illustrated the divergent views oflead­ over the Senate's violation ofthe cus­ ers in American Samoa. Congressman tomary process whereby county coun­ Hunkin was critical ofQuayle's visit, cils select senators. He had contested calling it "a slap in the face" to other the Senate's selection of one ofits own countries in the region, because it members for a disputed Ma'uputasi failed to focus attention on "the unique County seat and supported another economic structures and other prob­ candidate for the position. lems facing such nations" (SN, 5 May The rejection issue exacerbated 1989). The governor called Hunkin existing tensions between the governor "out of order and out ofplace ... an and thefono, and Coleman sought embarrassment to our people and our­ "official notification" from the fono of selves" for acknowledging Soviet their reasons for rejecting his nominees "efforts to be friends with other island (SN, 23 May 1989). For its part, the countries in the region" (SN, 5 May fono soughtthe removalofthree direc~ 1989). tors, on the grounds that it was illegal Conflict over budget priorities fur­ for nominees rejected by thefono to ther widened the breach between the continue to serve, even in an acting congressional representative, the exec­ capacity (SN, 23 May 1989). utive, and the legislature. The gover­ The political impasse raised the nor was upset by financial difficulties issue of whether senators should be inherited from the previous administra­ elected by popular vote, rather than tion, but attracted criticism for his through Samoan custom. In an address "adversarial" attitude toward the legis­ in early May 1989, Coleman stated lature. The legislature was admonished "senators should be responsible and for its handling of confirmation hear­ responsive to the voters." Alluding to ings, and for stonewalling executive the excise tax measure having "died in initiatives. It was an inauspicious the senate," the governor "indicated beginning for the new administra- that voters are unable to influence sen­ tion. ators because they are not accountable BILL LEGALLEY to the voters" (SN, 5 May 1989). A bill introduced in thefono calling for a ref­ erendum on senate election methods could have a dramatic impact on the The year was dominated by the parlia­ existing balance betweenfa'a Samoa mentary elections ofJanuary 1989. The and Western political institutions. An important issues were not policy mat­ interesting sidelight ofthe issue was ters, on which there was little differ- THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· SPRING 1990 ence between the parties, but rather paper over the Christmas period kept personalities and practices. the formal campaign brief. The two The ruling coalition delayed the major parties published manifestos a elections until the very end ofthe five few days before the election, but it is years between elections permitted by doubtful whether they had much the constitution. There was so much impact. On the smaller islands the dissension within the coalition that issues were even more personal and each faction had its own candidates localized than on , the site of standing in opposition to its coalition the capital, where over half the popula­ "partners" in several electorates. tion live. The reelection ofDr Robati The main parties contesting the 1989 (of ) and Mr George (of election were the ) was considered a foregone con­ and the Democratic Party. The Cook clusion, as they had arranged govern­ Islands Party, set up in 1965 by Mr ment "employment" for at least one Albert Henry, held power until 1978 voter from each family on their islands when a corruption scandal led to the before the election. Government wages conviction ofHenry together with Fin­ were paid, but whether real work was bar Kenny, a US stamp dealer who had done is debatable. financed some ofthe illegal activity. Travel allowances were a major Since then Mr , a political issue. The Democratic Party cousin ofthe founder, has led the main coalition leaders had been traveling wing of the party. TEe Democratic .very extensively andataWiIfg allow- ­ Party was founded by Sir Tom Davis, ances far in excess ofcosts. Some min­ who headed the government from 1978 isters reportedly made more money until 1987, when he was ousted by the from their travel allowances than from members ofhis own cabinet ostensibly their salaries. When the issue became because he was restrictive with finance, public two months before the election, swore at them, and did not consult and seemed likely to cost votes, greatly them enough. Sir Tom claims that he reduced allowances were announced. was attempting to restrain his senior A trip which would have entitled a cabinet colleagues from action that he minister to NZ$I2,942 (in addition to believed to be corrupt and unethical. the cost of accommodation) under the He was replaced by Dr , old system, netted him NZ$3,762 at butthe leader of one faction ofthe the new rates (Petitioner, 10 Jan 1989). party, Mr , sought the When Foreign Minister Norman leadership right up to the election. George, who had just built a home for Two parties formed late in 1988­ NZ$250,OOO, was asked whether he the Cook Islands People's Party, led by put such travel allowance surpluses in S. M. ("Cookie") Sadaraka, and the his pocket, he replied "Where else?" Labour Party, led by Rena Ariki Jon­ Crime was a matter of concern at nassen-also contested the election but many levels. Theft has increased con­ won no seats. siderably on Rarotonga, but interna­ A government ban on "political" tional crime was a much bigger issue. material on the radio and in the news- Was the Italian hotel project for the POLITICAL REVIEW • POLYNESIA

benefit of the nation, as the govern­ Zealand as in the Cook Islands. New ment claimed, or a Mafia-linked Zealanders, on the other hand, need investment involving payoffs to key fig­ permission to visit the Cook Islands. ures associated with the Democratic The Cook Islands can sever the rela­ Party, as its critics claimed? The new tionship at any time, whereas New government commissioned an inquiry Zealand cannot. The last five New into the matter. Meanwhile, allega­ Zealand prime ministers have indicated tions oflinks between the leadership of privately to the Cook Islands govern­ the Cook Islands Party and Australian ment that they would be happy to see organized crime surfaced again when a the Cook Islands adopt a status of convicted Sydney criminal visited party complete constitutional indepen­ leaders several times during the cam­ dence. paign. The connection between drugs Certain areas of ambiguity in the and politics was also a matter ofmuch relationship are sometimes awkward speculation on Rarotonga. A ship reg­ for both sides. For example, although istered in the Cook Islands was seized the Cook Islands has progressively by the US Coast Guard shortly before taken over responsibility for its own the election, and its crew was convicted foreign affairs since achieving self-gov­ in Honolulu oftransporting drugs ernment in 1965, the two countries are from Asia to the United States. still supposed to consult on defense There was also much debate about issues. But when New Zealand Prime . the increased size of the police force, Minister DavidLange baniiea nuclear and about whether the Cook Islands ships from New Zealand ports, Cook needed, or could afford to run, an Aus­ Islands Prime Minister Sir Tom Davis tralian-donated patrol boat. declared that nuclear ships were wel­ In the election, the Cook Islands come in the Cooks. Cook Islanders in Party won 13 ofthe 24 seats and, with the Cook Islands, unhappy with gov­ the support ofthe two-man Demo ernment action they believed to be Tumu faction ofthe Democratic Party, corrupt or unconstitutional, have was able to form a government. The appealed as New Zealand citizens to former Democratic-Cook Islands the New Zealand government to inter­ Party coalition under Dr Robati won vene, which it has been reluctant to do. 10 seats. The election for the seat The prospect of complete constitu­ representing Cook Islanders temporar­ tional independence was raised by Mr ily resident overseas was declared void Makiuti Tongia during the 1989 elec­ as the result of a court case, and a by­ tion, but none of the parties has ever election was called. publicly advocated this step. This re­ Constitutional issues have been flects a general preference for the pres­ raised, but not acted on, in recent ent relationship, which gives access to years. The associated-state relationship higher salaries, old age pensions, child that the Cook Islands has with New allowances, sickness benefits, and a Zealand is not reciprocal. Cook Island­ level of services in New Zealand not ers have dual citizenship, and twice as available at home. Nevertheless, New many Cook Islanders live in New Zealand has increased the pressure to 166 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· SPRING 1990

sever the constitutional tie by reducing FRENCH POLYNESIA the level of aid. Shortly after the election a distin­ Following the social unrest in Papeete guished Cook Island civil servant, Mr in October 1987, and the subsequent Tamarii Pierre, published an article in defeat of Gaston Flosse's Tahoera'a the Cook Island News noting the pro­ Party, the new coalition government, gressive decline in New Zealand aid led by President Alexandre Leontieff, and advocating a carefully thought managed to survive internal ideological out, ten-year program leading to con­ divisions as well as challenges by oppo­ stitutional independence. By the end of sition parties and the State Administra­ June 1989, however, there had been no tive Court. Leontieff maintained a public response, and politicians seemed careful balance between the often con­ to be concerned with more immediate flicting agendas ofthe state, the territo­ priorities. rial assembly, the local clergy, business The new government increased operators, labor unions, and the local some welfare payments, postponed people. The new government initially acceptance ofthe Australian patrol set the redressing ofthe social and eco­ boat offer, set up an education com­ nomic issues as its first priority. But mission to rethink educational policy, political issues preoccupied it so often and replaced the chief administrative during the year under review, that busi­ officers on the outer islands and the ness, labor unions, and others were membership 6fvariousstilfutory increasingly askin-gifit was inaeed authorities (these have been political capable ofdealing with these issues in appointments for some years). The the remaining years ofits term. government was also considering mak­ Much ofearly 1988 was spent trying ing Christian education a compulsory to achieve consensus and a unified plat­ part of the school curriculum. The form. Ministers such as Jacqui Drollet, opening ofParliament was deferred to leader ofIa Mana te Nuna'a certainly the last day permitted by the constitu­ have ideological positions quite differ­ tion (90 days from the election), and ent from others in the coalition. What major new legislation was not expected really kept the group together was a until later in 1989. Prime Minister willingness to set aside political differ­ Geoffrey Henry, in his capacity as Min­ ences in order to maintain stability and ister for Foreign Affairs, visited the tackle important domestic issues. United States, French Polynesia, China However, barely three months into the (for the Asian Development Bank year, the government became involved meeting), New Zealand, Australia, and in the politics ofthe national elections. New Caledonia in his first three months Although most members ofthe coali­ in office. For a very small nation with tion supported Mitterrand, Leontieff limited resources, seeking aid from (like Flosse) backed Chirac in the presi­ abroad remained a high priority. dential elections ofApril 1988. Not sur­

RON CROCOMBE AND prisingly, relations between the govern­ MARJORIE CROCOMBE ments in Paris and Tahiti were not especially W'l-rm. State funding ofover