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In July 1990, Vanuatu Marked the Tenth Anniversary of Independence

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In July 1990, Vanuatu Marked the Tenth Anniversary of Independence THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1991 March 1990, on his way to indepen­ VANUATU dence celebrations in Namibia. In In July 1990, Vanuatu marked the tenth August, Foreign Affairs Minister anniversary ofindependence from Donald Kalpokas visited Paris to pre­ France and Britain with a reenactment pare the way for the reinstatement of a ofthe initial raising ofthe Vanuatu flag French ambassador to Vanuatu. in Independence Park, accompanied by Ambassador Crespin-Leblond had the obligatory 21-gun salute, brass been expelled in 1987 for allegedly pro­ band music, and a fly-past of planes viding election funds to the fran­ from government-owned Vanair. cophone opposition party. Kalpokas The twenty-first meeting of the capped his visit with the revelation that South Pacific Forum was held in Port Crespin-Leblond had been framed by Vila to coincide with the independence former Vanua'aku Pati (vp) Secretary­ celebrations, and was chaired by Prime General Barak Sope, now leader ofthe Minister Walter Lini. Lini deflected opposition Melanesian Progressive some ofthe island nations' resentment Party (MPP). toward Australia and New Zealand VP initiatives in reestablishing rela­ over the Johnston Atoll issue (see tions with France reflect the further review ofthe region, preceding this dilution of the old francophone­ article) by observing that, while the anglophone schism and the forging of two countries naturally belonged in the new political alliances among ni­ Forum, they approached some issues Vanuatu. Late in the year, George with a limited "European perspective." Carlo resigned as MPP secretary-gen­ He also attempted to build bridges eral and applied for readmission to the between Australia and the island VP, with the intention of contesting the nations on the issue of New Caledonia next general election as the VP candi­ by inviting Prime Minister Hawke to date for Tongoa-Shepherds. Prior to sit on the Forum's ministerial commit­ his resignation, Carlo apologized in the tee to oversee the implementation of party's newsletter, Freedom andJus­ the Matignon Accord, but Hawke tice, which he edited, for the many declined. anti-vp articles it had published. Given Vanuatu's continuing support Carlo's about-face followed the deci­ for the Front de Liberation Nationale sion offormer Union ofModerate Par­ Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), its rela­ ties President Jean-Marie Leye to flout tionship with France is unlikely ever to his party's boycott and serve on the VP­ be exactly companionable. However, controlled Constitutional Review the prospect of increased financial and Committee. technical aid has encouraged a rap­ The establishment of the Constitu­ prochement with the former colonial tional Review Committee represents power in recent years. Following Secre­ the most important political develop­ tary ofForeign Affairs Nike Nike ment in Vanuatu during 1990, with the Vurobaravu's official visit to Paris in potential to transform both the prac­ November 1989, Prime Minister Lini tice and meaning of politics in the made a brief stopover in Noumea in republic. The committee, chaired by POLITICAL REVIEW. MELANESIA Deputy Speaker Tele Taun, with as Barak Sope and the MPP, the consti­ Leader of the Opposition Vincent tutional review represents further evi­ Boulekone as vice-chair, comprises dence that the vp is set on creating a twenty members of the ruling one-party state. For others, such as Vanua'aku Pati, four Tan Union dele­ Jack Keitadi, curator ofthe National gates, and single representatives of the Museum, the concern is that any fur­ Council of Chiefs, the Christian Coun­ ther attempts to enshrine "traditional cil, the National Council ofWomen, chiefly powers" in the constitution the Youth and Sports Council, charita­ might force customs of only limited ble organizations, and the two extra­ applicability (such as the automatic parliamentary opposition parties (with succession of chiefly titles from father the MPP maintaining its boycott ofthe to son) on the entire country. committee's work). While the Constitutional Review Lini's expressed hope was that the Committee will take heed of such committee would radically overhaul warnings, there can be little doubt that what he termed Vanuatu's "foreign, it will recommend fundamental Western Constitution," particularly in changes to the constitution. The the areas of individual rights and free­ Vanua'aku Pati as a whole is commit­ dom, the administration of justice, and ted to going beyond the inherited West­ the constitutional role of the president ern parliamentary model. Lini also (Pacific Report, 12 April 1990). For expressed the party's collective view him, the revised constitution should when he argued that independence, if it acknowledge that the role ofthe head is to be more than political rhetoric, of state is essentially ceremonial and has to extend right down to the village perhaps should be open only to "the level. The party is acutely aware that highest traditional ... chief or a for many young ni-Vanuatu the politi­ retired religious leader." Lini also advo­ cal achievements ofthe past decade are cated a greater role in the country's less significant than the government's eleven local government councils for inability to meet their rising material customary chiefs, church leaders, and expectations. With their eyes on the women's leaders, believing that the 1991 national elections, the party's present electoral system "seems to hope would seem to be that the process almost isolate the chiefs, the religious of constitutional review will provide leaders and the community leaders." a new independence struggle for Vanu­ Customary chiefs, according to Lini, atu's disaffected youth to identify with. should be given power under the Con­ The extent to which the review com­ stitution to administer justice in their mittee's recommendations endorse the own villages and islands. Perhaps his prime minister's own reform proposals most far-reaching proposal is that the will reflect the degree to which he con­ redrafted constitution should recognize trols the Vanua'aku Patio At the end of only those Christian churches that the year he seemed better placed than "were there when we were struggling ever before with respect to day-to-day for independence." government business. A major reallo­ For Lini's political opponents, such cation of cabinet positions in Novem- MAe M • MWiM' A 420 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1991 ber gave him the key portfolios of for­ band, Sela Molisa. He subsequently eign affairs, energy, fisheries, civil avia­ lost the housing portfolio in the tion, and tourism, in addition to public November Cabinet reshuffle. service, planning, and immigration. In the event, there was no direct Although this reshuffle was ostensibly challenge to Lini, and, given his stated to give senior ministers more time for intention to step down as party leader the Constitutional Review Committee, and prime minister by the next elec­ and for the upcoming election cam­ tions, it is unlikely that any will be paign, Lini made it clear that it forthcoming. However, key figures in reflected dissatisfaction with the per­ Vanuatu public life were known to be formance ofministers. Some hit back extremely concerned about some of the at what were effectively their demo­ government's actions during 1990. tions. Notwithstanding Lini's endorse­ Religious and women's leaders spoke ment ofhim as his eventual successor, out strongly against government sup­ Kalpokas made clear his resentment port for the establishment of the about losing the foreign affairs portfo­ Tusker brewery by the Swedish brewer lio. Education Minister Sethy Regan­ Pripps, which commenced operations vanu was one of only two ministers to in August. There was also opposition emerge unscathed from the reshuffle. to the government's encouragement Despite generally poor relations with of casinos. Newspaper pictures of the country's teachers, Reganvanu the prime minister trying his hand appears to be "untouchable" within the at the official opening of the Radisson government. Palms Resort Casino in July (and Lini's move against his ministers fol­ before the introduction of any legisla­ lowed the departure in October of his tive controls over casino operations) long-standing secretary, Grace Molisa, did not endear the former Anglican after her public opposition to his serv­ priest to the Vanuatu Christian ing of deportation orders ("green let­ Council. ters") against seven expatriate busi­ The brewery and the casinos prom­ nessmen in Port Vila. The men were ise to be lucrative money-spinners for a deported ostensibly because they posed government still heavily reliant on for­ a threat to security, but this was inter­ eign aid (though not, as it often points preted to mean that they had links with out, for its recurrent expenditures). Barak Sope. Molisa is reported to have Three weeks after the brewery opened, objected in particular to the expulsion Tusker presented the government with of two New Zealanders and the gov­ the first monthly payment of4.1 mil­ ernment's refusal, on fairly technical lion vatu in excise duty, and Radisson grounds, to allow them to engage a will make over 10 percent of the casi­ New Zealand lawyer to challenge the no's turnover each month. However, in expulsion orders. The expulsions encouraging this kind of foreign pri­ became a key topic at the Vanua'aku vate investment, the government has Pati Congress in October, which had been accused of creating long-term been preceded by reports of a leader­ problems that political and customary ship challenge by Grace Molisa's hus- leaders will be unable to cope with, no POLITICAL REVIEW· MELANESIA 421 matter how much power they might be tourists. In July a party ofJapanese given by the revised constitution. investors arrived in Vila on a direct Similar disquiet was evident with flight from Nagoya as guests of the the government's encouragement of Vanuatu government for the tenth Japanese real estate investment in anniversary celebrations.
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