makes progress

Education

Law unit makes progress

The University of the South Pacific’s decentrali sation policy takes shape in Vanuatu

By Patrick Decloitre

„ , . . , The foundation stone for the University of the South Pacifics decen tralised law school in the Vanuatu cap ita o on la was ai in . arc . e project is funded by the government of feSV a,” 8 “ mterest - free loan of US$5.B million.

The unit is situated on the existing USP campus in Vanuatu and once com pleted, in September 1996, will have the capacity to accommodate 180

boarding students.

At the official foundation laying cere mony, attended by Prime Minister Maxim Carlot, Education Minister Remain Batick, USP’s pro-Vice Chancellor Asesela Ravuvu, Chinese Ambassador Zhan Daode and govern ment and diplomatic officials, the Vanuatu government stressed the importance of this law unit and its aim to make it a bilingual (French and English) one.

The same day, minutes before the foundation stone was laid and a com

memorative plaque unveiled, Vanuatu padiament had ratified a treaty of tech nical and economic co-operation with China, paving the way for the project.

Carlot said he was considering plans to amend Vanuatu’s Immigration laws to allow USP students to enter the island state with a special visa. He stressed the importance of an institu tion such as the USP, saying “half the region’s leaders have at different times attended courses at USP”.

Ravuvu said the project was part of USP’s decentralisation policy, after its first Law programme, involving sub degree courses, was established almost 10 years ago. The new project will offer degree-level courses.

A regional workshop in 1992 saw lawyers and experts from the region draft a new programme for the degree course, taking into account European style law and traditional and customary principles.

The Vanuatu aims to have the com plex completed by January 1996 - in time to welcome the first students for the new school year. The complex includes a library, classrooms, a labora tory, dormitories and dining facilities.

The library has been aptly named Sarovanua, meaning island coming together. ■