Banabans Take An 'Independent Line'

Prom a Suva Correspondent

The Banaban people of Rabi Island are talking independence. Still angry with their deal over phosphate royalties some of the councillors want to approach the UN about a New Banaba, and have even designed their own flag.

TTERE in Suva the independence moves are not taken very seriously, although five councillors actually turned up in Suva recently with their bags packed ready to go to UN headquarters in New York.

Wiser counsels prevailed and they returned home to their small island next door to Taveuni, Rabi, and the 1,900 Banaban people who live there, are an integral part of Fiji. The islanders settled there after World War 11, when their home, Ocean Island, in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, was devastated.

The full story of their present difficulties has been told in PIM in recent months (see especially “Angry Ocean Islanders Have No Kind Words For Britain”, Oct., 1965, p. 32).

The Fiji Government has been worried that the Banabans showed no inclination to register as electors for the Fiji-wide elections in September.

The Banabans have in fact had financial relief since their plight was first brought to public attention in PIM last year. More relief may be on the way. They have had two visits from the chief Colonial Office economist in London, Mr. K. C.

Christofas. He was making his second visit to the islanders in early May.

Following his first visit in Decem ber they received another 1/- a ton in royalties for their Ocean Island phosphate, and in June or July they will sit down in Canberra with the British Phosphate Commissioners to talk about a larger slice of the cake.

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony will also be represented. This is the first time the Rabi people have been invited to such a conference on their own account.

The Rabi islanders will have as their spokesmen in Canberra the same Sydney firm of consulting economists, Philip Shrapnel and Co., retained by the Nauruans.

The Nauruans will probably be having their own talks in Canberra in late May. These will discuss the ownership of the Nauru phosphate deposits, and try to work out a “final solution” to the Nauruan request for control. Attitude of the UN trustee ship partners on Nauru—Australia, NZ and the UK—is reported to have hardened recently, and the Nauruans may find their task more difficult than anticipated. • About 151,000 people, out of the eligible 180,000, have registered as voters for the general elections in Fiji in September and October. The figures for the three rolls are: Indians, 73,219; Fijians, 71,564; general (Europeans, Chinese, etc.), 6,332.

Hydrofoil May

Suit Pacific

Exciting new travel possibilities may be opened up for the South Pacific if the first open-ocean ferry service operated by high speed hydrofoil, capable of travel ling through six feet waves, is successful. The US designed Grumman Dolphin (left) which is capable of carrying up to 88 passengers at 50 knots will go into service in August for a Spanish company, taking tourists on a 132 mile route between Barcelona , Majorca, Valencia and the Canary Islands.