Sound and friendly' words to New Hebrides expatriates

New Hebrides expatriates

An article by David A. Joffick, of Vila, UCNH’s assistant secretary, on “A rout for nationalists in New Hebrides elections” and a letter by David Curtis, of Vila, “The Church is wed”, both in the October PIM, have brought replies from New Hebrideans but because of space pressures only one appears this month. The others will appear in the January PIM. Below, George Kalkoa, a well-known member of the National Party, gives his views. The article has been curtailed.

Why can’t some foreigners close their traps and leave the in digenous people of the New Hebrides to decide their own future. What have Joffick and Curtis done for the New Hebrides or even the inhabitants in the very short time they have been in the group, to be so concerned about the political developments in the New Hebrides?

The Municipal Council elections were a first test of universal suffrage and it goes to show that it is a turn ing point for those who have long endeavoured to make the fairy-god mothers follow a right and demo cratic road that would eventually lead to Nationhood for the Heb rideans. It was a victory for UCNH but at the expense of others. What about the allegations of BRIBERY in the form of commodities given to some New Hebrideans living in the town areas of Vila to vote for UCNH, the government’s decision for a re-election in one of the wards due to irregularities, the oppressed not knowing what was happening being threatened by their oppressors to participate in the UCNH pro cession through Vila 48 hours before the polling began or be dismissed from their jobs, the financial aid from Lafleur in New Caledonia and the UDR Party in France and the use of a plane for propaganda pur poses. The electoral system used in the municipal elections was designed so as to ensure that the Europeans had a representation on the councils in excess of their numerical strength within the urban areas. A closer analysis of this system will show you that New Hebrideans did not get a fair deal.

The National Party is very pleased that six of its candidates are able to have seats in the Municipal Council in Vila and the party has not lost face at all. It is a pity that, for the sake of party lines, in a minor elec tion such as the municipal council election the UCNH choice of in digenous candidates depict one pic ture, that of white minority’s abso lute eagerness for POWER of domi

nation. Is that the acclaimed reason for a “rout for Nationalist” in Mr Joffick’s article?

Mr Joffick may be happy to learn that the three former members of the NP now firmly established in UCNH have been known to “be sit ting on the fence” all along and it was no surprise to see them switch their allegiance to another party.

They were not, and I repeat they were not, founder members of the NP. So make sure about your facts, Mr Joffick.

The NP approached the French Government with a request that it should help in printing its publicity literature and posters, but was told it could not be done. It approached the British Government and was told it could be done provided payment was made and I am sure it would do the same for UCNH or any other political party provided payment was made for the service.

The National Party has very limited funds and it cannot afford the cost of printing firms in Vila.

Unlike UCNH it does not have wealthy overseas supporters and it cannot afford to distribute free “T” shirts, etc. I do not believe that the campaign funds of UCNH were do-

nated by “sympathetic friends” such as the French community or the European population. Indications are that the NP will be victorious in the

forthcoming Representative Assembly

elections.

The NP, when first formed, was a

Cultural Association But

when more thought was put into it, a political party was born. Mr Joffick claims that for the last two years the NP has endeavoured to break the power of the hereditary and elected chiefs. He must be joking or is he trying to get on some peoples’ nerves. What does he know about the power of hereditary chiefs, cus tom, culture or tradition. To be in Vila for five years does not qualify one to be a spokesman on New Heb ridean culture and tradition especially if one is an expatriate.

The Nagriamel movement has lost its true identity as a pressure group of the Melanesians who wish to get their land back from the Europeans.

It is now a puppet of Mr Peacock, the French Government and some French planters in Santo.

UCNH claims to have succeeded in turning the John Frum towards their cause. It may be through sacks of rice and other stuffs that this support has been acquired. However, I doubt very much if John Frum will support UCNH in the elections. The MANH party was formed in Santo from a group of people who opposed the NP’s efforts to secure the release of two brothers unjustifiably gaoled by the French Police. Its supporters live in the main town of Santo only.

To speak of the American interest in the New Hebrides perhaps one should remember that it is not the Government of the United States who is interested, but individuals who wish to make fast money. I re call that I was asked to cut short a university course to return to the

George Kalkoa

New Hebrides to discuss a regulation on land speculation.

I remember vividly a planter who praised the Americans for having protected the group from the Japan ese during World War II and because they have a lot of money would help the New Hebrides in its development.

I told the planter and others who were present that “Peaceful exploit ation is different from land specula tion”. The Joint Administrations enacted the regulation and that was it. It is unfortunate for those Ameri cans who bought land from Mr Pea cock because this regulation will not be amended or repealed for some considerable time.

Perhaps Mr Joffick would be well advised to seek facts from the British Education Department in Vila be fore he starts saying things about the British output in literacy. The British Secondary School in the New Heb rides has established some good records overseas and proof from private students overseas shows that the education level in the New Heb rides is quite high, as a number of students have returned from the University of the South Pacific and are now working and soon others will follow suit from the University of Papua New Guinea and the Uni versity of Technology in Lae. Just in passing, I would mention that an ex-student of BSS has completed an aircraft engineering course in UK and is also licensed to fly. A Euro pean ex-student of BSS now attending Auckland Grammar school finds himself placed higher in the form in Auckland than he could maintain at BSS. Does that make any sense to Mr Joffick? I doubt very much that the French language will predominate here in the years to come. It is a second language to a New Hebridean like English and it will remain thus.

The National Party is a nationalist movement and will struggle on to achieve its aim in 1977, come rain or hail. There is no turning back. I doubt very much whether the coali tion by UCNH-MANH-Tabwenasana and Nagriamel will achieve anything as far as the future of the New Heb rides is concerned and they are no threat to those who seek JUSTICE and FREEDOM. The New Hebrides is not going to be another South Africa, that is definite, and make no mistake about it.

Let me give a sound and friendly word to those expatriates who wish to make loud noises in the New Hebrides political front “BETTER

To Be Seen And Not Heard”.