Rabi People
pp. 24-25 · Read in the full issue
Say They Ar
Still Angry
The GEIC people are urn severe economic pressure a they depend on tax from 1 Ocean Island phosphate. Th large slice has irritated the Ri
people (see Tebuke Rota
article on p. 23).
ROTAN, manager of the R; Island Council, together w councillors Kabure Kaibati a Karawa I. Eri, visited Melbour Canberra and Sydney in Aug gathering advice on what stand tl should take in Wellington in Septe ber, when they discuss phosphate pj ments with the BPC partners, Brita Australia and New Zealand.
In Melbourne they talked to t Nauruans, led by Head Chief Ha mer Deßoburt; in Canberra tl spoke to Dr. Helen Hughes, P fessor J. W. Davidson and Mr. Ha Maude. In Sydney they talked w economic advisers Philip Shrapi and Co. Also taking part in the Sj ney talks was the leader of the Opp sition in the Fiji Legislative Count Mr. A. D. Patel, a barrister, whc the Rabi Council has retained as lep adviser for the Wellington talks.
Tebuke Rotan said in Sydney tl the council’s regular adviser, Mr. I J. C. Saunders, of the Suva firm William Scott and Co., had resigned “Rabi wanted to retain both ft Saunders and Mr. Patel, but ft
iders said it wouldn’t work out two lawyers,” said Tebuke. irlier this year, as a result of a to London, the Banabans were i a special UK grant of £BO,OOO s used on development on Rabi. sh advisers are now preparing scheme.
Sydney the Rabi delegation said this handout was “a lolly”, and main complaint, that they were getting their rightful share of the phate as landowners, still had to ealt with. ley wanted two-thirds of what was able, and the present distribution 0/ld for the GEIC and 7/- for Rabi landowners was unfair.
Got advice
ieir main anger was that the dis tion of monies over the years been made without negotiation them. iring their Australian visit the bans received specific advice on »oints of relevance between their and the Nauruans’ case. Particu they have learned of the impor : of obtaining the world price 3cean Island phosphate, and it ;ely they will press for this. implications are brought about tie GEIC Government’s interest e phosphate monies and the fact the Banabans will be part of the ih delegation in Wellington, and not have the same independence :tion that the Nauruans success insisted upon in their own talks.
Tebuke Rotan.