Pacific Islands Monthly
The news magazine of the South Pacific · since 1930
Pacific Islands Monthly, 1 January 1976Vol. 47, No. 1

the Gilberts

p. 12 · Read in the full issue

Page 1212

A walk-out in the Gilberts

Members of the opposition walked out of the Gilbert Islands House of Assembly early in De cember when the Financial Secret ary, Mr Patrick Reardon, intro duced the Budget for 1976, but returned to vote against the second reading of the Budget bill. Their numbers were insufficient, and the House passed the bill.

The bill provided for hefty in creases in direct and indirect taxes.

Included was a provision for about $5 million to finance development projects. Mr Reardon said the colony had to shotv it was prepared to make its contribution to deve lopment projects.

The house voted money to set up a defence force. The Chief Minister, Mr Naboua Ratieta, said the force would have a strong de velopment role. The term “defence force” might give a wrong im pression, so he wanted to make it clear that development would be its major task.

The Gilbert Islands at present has a police force, but no defence force.

Digitised by the National Library of Australia · OCR text via GLAM Workbench · uncorrected OCR, expect errors
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