Tuvalu Sets
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
The Date For
Independence
The most significant even during Tuvalu’s December budget meeting in the House of Assembly was the un animous passing of a motion in troduced by Chief Minister Toalipi Lauti, calling for the setting up of a constitutional committee and infor ming the United Kingdom that Tubalu wishes to go independent in 1978.
All members spoke enthusiastically in support of the motion, though one or two expressed doubts about the country’s economy. Mr Isa Paeniu said that those who did not want to live without their colonial masters could always emigrate to French Polynesia or New Caledonia!
Members of the constitutional committee was limited to the elected members of the House under the Chief Minister’s chairmanship.
Strenuous touring programme is being carried out with two days of meetings on each island. The Attorney-General, Mr J.A.B. Disney, is accompanying the committee as ad viser and Mr lonatana lonatana (ex- Chief of Police, but now an ad ministrative officer) is secretary. The committee expects to report to the next assembly meeting in April.
At the committee’s first meeting, a timetable leading to independence on October I, 1978, was agreed. October I is Tuvalu Day, and was the date in 1975 when legal separation from the Gilberts was achieved. It is likely that a constitutional conference in London in March, 1978, will be proposed.
In November, Professor David Murray of the University of the South Pacific paid a 10-day visit to the colony, at the invitation of Com missioner Tom Layng, and held a series of seminars with politicans, civil servants, church leaders and members of the public.
He also visited two of the outer islands and was able to explain some of the constitutional possibilities open to an independent Tuvalu.
His meetings provoked much lively discussion, and ome quite original ideas were put forward.
Under the present constitution, the life of the current House of Assembly expires on October 1. It is understood that there are plans for a General Election (probably on August 29).