first extraordinary session for 1980 1j - Parliament of Vanuatu

rJElii HEBRIDESREPRESENTATIVEASSEMBLY

FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION FOR 1980

1J - 21 FEBRUARY, 1980

SUMMARISED RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

NEW HEBRIDES REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

RA3/PU/3Original; English


Wednesday, 13 February, 1980

1. The First Extraordinary Session of 1980 was convened by the Chairman ofthe Representative Assembly on the initiative of the Chief Minister

Chairman Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA

PreBent •c 31 MembersAbsent * o Messrs G. CRONSTEADT

H. KARAERUA. MALEREA. MALIUC. NAKOW. NALANT. TUNGUA. YOLOU

The Agenda is included asi Annex I.

2. The Chairman opened the Session at 0.40 atm. welcomed the Members and Resident Commissioners, and called on Pastor lack HOPA to say the prayer.

3. The Chairman then invited the Resident Commissioners to address the House. (ANNEX II and III)

4. The Chairman then directed the members attention to additional working papers to the Agenda which wore placed .in front of them this morning.

5. The Chairman said he rogrettod to see that a number of members had not attended and he bolievod it would bo proper to adjourn the sitting in.the hops that these members would turn up Bometimo today or ths next morning.

6. The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 9.30 a.m. until the next morning at 0,30 a.m.

The Chairman

TIMAKATA

NEW HEBRIDESREPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/3 RA3/AG/I.8O (Am*2) 18 February 1980 Original: English


Wodnesday, 13 February, 1980

A G E N D A

Item No* Document No*

1, Draft Motion to amend the StandingOrders of the Representative Assembly...* RA3/M/2-P

2. Election of Special and General Committees of the Representative Assembly,

3. Draft Resolution to remove Powers of the General Committee....................- Government Legislative Programme 1980...

RA3/D/l-P(Am.l)RA3/WP/1

4, Discussion on New Hebrides’ Flag, National Anthem, Emblem, Motto, Coat of Arms.

5. Draft Motion to join the Commonwealthof Nations*• RA3/M/4-P

6. Draft Motion to join the Agence deCo-operation Culturelle et Technique...... RA3/M/3-P

7. Election of Electoral Committee (as provided in Article 91 of theConstitution.............................. RA3/WP/2

8. Date of Independence.

9. Draft Motion No. 5Political situation in Santo,,,*,..,,,,,,, RA3/M/5-P

10. Draft Motion o. 6Chapter 9 (2) of the Constitution......... RA3/M/6-P

11. Draft Motion No. 7Assembly Members’ Allowances.............. RA3/M/7-P

12. Draft Motion No. 8Legislation re Workers* Benefit*.......... RA3/M/8-F

13* Draft Motion No. 9Roads and Airfield - Island of Maewo...... RA3/M/9-P

14. Draft Motion No. 10 Concerning Island of Aoba*..................... RA3/M/10-P

ANNEX II TO RAJ/PV/3Original: French

ADDRESS OF THE FRENCH RESIDENT COMMISSIONER ON THE

OPENING MORNING OF THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE NEW HEBRIDES REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY ON

WEDNESDAY, 1^TH FEBRUARY, 1?8O

British Resident Commissioner,Chairman,Chief Minister,Ministers, Honourable Members,

I believe that this mornings meeting of this House is

important for two reasons.In the first place you will begin to decide upon the Legislation

required to organise the New Hebridean state before it accedes to

Independence.It appears absolutely essential to me that you then take time

to reflect upon the internal situation in your country which for

the moment would seem to be less than satisfactory. The elections took place in November and a Government was formed; however, dissidents has already broken out in various parts of the group.

My impression on my return after a month’s absence is that these movements have spread and strengthened and I hear that if we are not careful they will develop further and be taken up and echoed in islands other than Santo and Tanna.

What is the cause of this situation? The Condominium structure must certainly have something to do with it. Over 80 years of anglo-frcnch presence the inhabitants of this country divided themselves superficially into two camps. One of which represents a little more than 60% of the population and the other just under This phenomenon originated from linguistic andreligious difference), longstanding habits, and ways of acting and thinking which aro reseparately alien. As I have often said, I do not believe that this split will continue to exist in the future and I am still convinced that when the two Residencies disappear the New Hebrides will be able to find Melanesian unity without the two

2- ANNEX II TO RAJ/PV/J

tendencies colliding.The future therefore does not worry me but I am a little apprehensive

about the immediate period to come.If the New Hebrides were to gain independence in a climate of

disorder and chaos this would be catastrophic for everybody involved and the common reputation of France and Great Britain would be seriously tarnished by such a state of affairs.

The Condominium structure is however certainly not the only reason.A number of expatriates with influence in the country either through many years of residence or because they hold important posts take

pleasure in inflaming political passions rather than using their influence to draw people close together. These expatriates, whether French, English or Australian, are more often than not merely guided by what they perceive to be their own personal interests and fail to understand that they are pushing the country to the brink of disaster; you the Melenosians must be put on your guard against these bad shepherds because if you listen to them your reward will be to taste the bitter fruit of civil war.

There is also a third reason: one is obliged to acknowledge the fact that since it came to power this government has not always given the impression of being the government of all Melanesians without distinction of creed or political colouring. Some of the Ministers have made very crazoworthy efforts and should be congratulated for this, but it is undeniable that much of the action taken would appear to have been governed rather by the desire for political revenge than the requirements of the public good.

Amongst francophones particularly the feeling of malaise has grown and pervades men of politics, civil servants, teachers and simple villagers. Most of them do no longer feel involved in tho various aspects of notional life. They are beginning to stir with a view to

demanding that their rights be recognized.Care must bo taken not to push people to despair. Winning elections

is a relatively easy tusk; what is rather more difficult is to govern a country in tho face of an Opposition which could soon represent 40%

of the population.

- 3 - ANNEX II TO RAJ/PV/3

At the recent conference in Paris which brought together the French Minister, the British Minister and the New Hebrides Government,

France confirmed her commitment to finding a swift remedy to the current feelings of insecurity. France's policy as I have stated in the past is based on three principles:

- Firstly, France reiterate that the government formed as a result of the recent elections is the only legitimate government. This government must exercise its authority over the whole of

the country.- Secondly, France will under no circumstances assess or

encourage secession movements whose purpose is to shatter unity in the group on the pretext that one island or another wishes to go independent alone. I repeated this forcefully yesterday in Santo and I will say the same thing tomorrow to the people

of Tunna.- Lastly, France will always resort to negotiation in preference

to the use of force. I must stress this point - the French police force will not allow itself to be caught in the trap of intervening for the sake of intervening. The French police will not respond to provocation and will not do anything to

facilitate escalation of violence.

Do you remember a time in the not so distant past when a government described as popular and provisional was exacting a variety of taxes

and taking other independent action.You will remember that the French police never went into action

against this organisation while it was in revolt, even when the victims? of its activity wore french settlers.

It was not fear that hold back the police but rather the French Residency's impression that the crisis was, as it is today, a political one and that a political remedy therefore needed to be found. This remedy was the Government of National Unity. Current differences are also political and should be settled by a political solution and through

negotiation.Police intervention has never been the answer when it is a matter

of principles and liberties.


These then are the 3 principles which guide the french policy in

this country until independence. My country is therefore ready and willing to do everything in her power for law and order to be re-established and for harmony to prevail once more in the group, under the authority of the legitimately elected assembly and the legal government. For this reason Minister Paul DIJOUD, in conjunction with his British colleague and counterpart, agreed to receive a Moderate Party delegation in Paris. The members of this delegation will be able to meet the representatives of the two Metropolitan powers and discuss how national peace can become a reality.

However, France’s determination to achieve this goal is conditioned

by two sources of anxiety.Firstly, the New Hebrides Government must not appear to be a

fundamentally anti-Francophono government seeking to achieve the total

eradication of the french language and the cultural and legal heritage bequeathed by France to the New Hebrides nor to systematically remove french speaking people not only from public service posts but also from

all sectors of national political administrative and economic alike. If we felt that the survival of the french language was threatened here, we, people of France, would lose our interest in the fate of the New Hebrides which would follow its path without us.

Secondly, we are very anxious to see a land tenure system

established swiftly so that settlers may know the conditions which will

govern how they farm and cultivate the land they occupy and how they may contribute to the country’s development. These settlers, not all of whom are french, are wondering what the future holds for them and I believe that the time has come to liaise with them in order to find mutually satisfactory solutions.

The French Residency is ready and willing to help find those solutions.

These concerns we feci are not contract conditions. As you know wo have begun talks on future co-operation between France and the Hew Hebrides; these talks, I hope, will be fruitfully resumed in Paris in March, but you will understand that there can be no question of asking France to finance operations which are directed physically, morally or intellectually against herself or against french speaking


people in this country.When. I say that, all I am doing is drawing a conclusion from a

situation which results from historical events. Either the New Hebrides will remain faithful to their past and to their tradition of liberal mindedncss and tolerance in which case all will be well, or they will incarcerate themselves in a narrow sectarian system where

ideological preferences will win the day over the desire for brotherhood and a basis of objective reality; in the latter case there is a groat risk that the country will be torn asunder.

If the second circumstance should prevail, France will depart;

she will leave the canoe. She will be powerless to preserve the country’s unity and encourage its development.

In truth, as I have often said to you, I do not believe in these sombre prospects. I am absolutely sure that the profound esteem in

which you hold each other will prove stronger than short lived quarrels and will bring back unity. I am particularly convinced that the wisdom which I am sure will be inherit in the decisions which you members of the Assembly and elected representatives of the people will take can not fail to bring peace back to this country which in the strength of its two cultures and with the powerful and impartial assistance and support of France and Great Britain will very rapidly

approve its ability and assume the prominent position which it should rightfully hold amongst the nations of the Pacific.

New HebridesRepresentative Assembly

ANNEX III TO RA3/PV/JOriginals English

FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF 1980

Speech given by Mr* a.C. STUaRT, British Resident Commissioner, at the session of the Representative Assembly held on Wednesday, 13 February, 19&0*

Mr* Chairman,

Members of the /assembly,

I have not prepared a speech today I was not sure that it would be a good idea to speak* Many of the things that I have to talk

about are not the responsibility of the Metropolitan Governments any

more they are your responsibility. Nevertheless I will try to speak freely and clearly to you to say some of the things that I have on my mind. Some of these things may be hard but since I have been in this country I have always tried to speak the truth and I will try to do so now*

The independence of the New Hebrides is very close, it may be no more than weeks or ut most months from today. The people have made their choice, the Government has been formed, the Constitution has been agreed by everybody; the country should be moving forward peacefully and successfully towards the future but I am afraid that as my French colleague says there are too many problems, too many divisions, too much uneasiness in the country. Things are not going well, too many people arc fearful, too many people are dreaming, too many people are looking around for somebody to blame, for somebody

else to blame for the problems of the country. The New Hebrides Mr Chairman can not reach a successful independence in this way.

The biggest dreamers of all are the separatist movements in Santo and Tanna, Do they really believe that by marching through the street of Santo carrying nulnuls, arrows and spears, by nailing namele leaves to the door of the District Agency, do they really believe that by holding flag raising ceremonies, by drilling with mock guns, by waiting for all the good things of this world to drop on them from the sky, do they really believe that this makes them a real independent country. Do the foreigners, the Americans, who write books about

- 2 - ANNEX III TO RA3/PV/3

setting up a little subservient obedient republic in some island in the sun in the middle of the Pacific where they can do their own thing, but no taxes, no laws, every man able to do what he likes and a nice obedient little collection of natives to do what they tell them, do they 2? eally believe that the people of the New Hebrides, that the Metropolitan Governments, that the people of other nations of the Pacific, and the other nations of the world will accept this that they can form an independent state in this way, they are dreaming*

Mr Chairman my colleague spoke about the fears of the francophones. Those fears are real and they are shared by people in this country and some of the leaders of this country for whom I have the greatest respect. They fear that the anglophone party, or people, or leaders will swamp them and destroy their culture, but Mr Chairman they are falling into the same error that they themselves have warned us against

in the past of thinking of the New Hebrides as being divided between francophone people end the anglophone people. Inspector-General ROBERT was quite right when he said that these divisions are divisions of the past, they have been imposed upon you by the nature of tho Condominium. You are all Melanesians you are not English, French, Anglophone or

Francophone. People try to make these divisions wider.

I have read in a French newspaper a story about British civil servants working for the New Hebrides Government, about how they are anti-French, how they are working to drive the French out of the New Hebrides, how they are acting even against the instructions of their boss, the British Residnt Commissioner, and how they are going to be sacked. These stories are dreams and they are untrue and they are dividing the country. Tho civil servants are not here to be English or French or anglophone or francophone they are here to serve the New Hebrides Government. If they do not serve the New Hebrides Government and people then they will be dismissed whether they are English or whether they are French, it does not matter they are here to servo. In the last government the civil servants that served in some of the key ministries of tho Government of National Unity were all French, it does not matter, it did not matter then, it does not matter now, what matters is that they should serve the New Hebrides, and people who believe that because a particular civil servant is

ANNEX III TO RAj/PV/3

British or French he is working in some way against the other side and

he is dividing the country, Mr Chairman, those people are dreaming and they are doing no service to the unity of this country.

Mr Chairman also there has been a lot of talk about the police, the British police and the French police. The fact that there is a

British police force and a French police force is another relic of the Condominium, the sooner that division ceases the better, the sooner it is a Melanesian police force the better. But until that happens do not please lot us fall into the error of thinking that ths British police

force are just to help the anglophones and that the French police force are just to help the francophones, they are here to serve the country.

I received yesterday a letter from one of the leaders of the country, one of the leading francophones for whom again I have the greatest respect in which he said that the intervention, the unilateral intervention, of the British police in Santo and in Tanna would be a simplestic solution which would only serve to be a repetition pure and

simple of the events of November 1977. He is quite right if the British police force is used on its own and if it is used against people who feel that the British are their enemies then it will divide the country it will not unify it, it will divide it, but Mr. Chairman, when the leaders of the country say this to me what do they expect me to do, do they expect me to accept a situation where the authority of the country is defied the authority of the government is defied and people are marching through the street to terrorise innocent people,

what do they want me to do. They are living, Mr Chairman, in the past, in the days when the British police force served the interests of the British alone and the French police force served the interests of the French alone. Mr Chairman the Metropolitan Governments too much speak clearly, must cease to be divided, must docide clearly how we arc going to help the New Hebrides to achieve a peaceful and united

independence.

Inspector-General ROBERT has spoken about the pledges of the British and French Governments to preserve the unity of the country and to support the elected government. Those pledges are firm and we must carry them out. It is true that the British and the French governments accepted

- h - ANNEX III TO RAJ/PV/3

the suggestion that in order to help to unify the country and to lead to

respect for the elected government of the country we would invite the leaders of the Moderates to come to discuss with our leaders but that invitation is subject to very clear pre-conditions. The pre-conditions are that a beginning must be made to restore the unity of the country and the authority of the government. We can not do it by ourselves; the leaders of the MODERATES must themselves accept the unity of the country and the leaders of the New Hebrides Government must help them and must show leadership towards that solution, and so finally, Mr Chairman, I would say to the New Hebrides Government itself you are the Government, the people have chosen you, they have chosen you to lead this government towards Independence not simply to blame the Resident Commissioners or the Metropolitan Governments, not simply to wait for something to happen till the people can take things into their own

hands there must bo leadership and there must be a plan.

Mr Chairman on your Agenda for this meeting there is the question of the date of independence but I have heard, I do .not know, I have

heard that it is possible that that discussion may be delayed and that no decision may be taken at this session but, Mr Chairman, the Hebrides needs a plan it needs to know what is going to happen in the future, it needs a framework within which everybody can plan for the future. Everything is ready for the New Hebrides Government to take the people into its confidence, to show leadership and to movo forward towards independence. Mr Chairman will be gained by delaying.Mr Chairman a House divided within itself can not stand. The New Hebrides Government and people and the leaders of the Government of National Unity and the Independence Government have created a house that is still united. Unity exists the people have spoken. It must not, the House must not, fall because of divisions. The future will not forgive the leaders of the New Hebrides, its divisions are allowed to exist and to grow. The New Hebrides, Mr Chairman, whatever its name may be when it becomes independent has in front of it a great future. It could be and I believe it will be a successful and rich and peaceful state which can bring a happy and successful and contented

5 ANNEX III TO RAJ/PV/3

future to its people and which can be a leader in the Pacific. There are divisions in the Pacific Mr Chairman between people who speak French and people who speak English. Many of those division come only from the fact that people sometimes do not understand each other. The New Hebrides understands, you know what these divisions are, you know how to overcome, you the people of the New Hebrides and the

Assembly of the New Hebrides can give leadership not only to your people but to the Pacific as a whole.

I am sure that you will do so.

Thank you Mr Chairman

NEW HEBRIOES REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

RA3/PV/4Originals English

SUMMARISED RECORD _OF. PROCEEDINGS

Thursday». 14 February» 1980

Chairman Pastor Frod K. TIMAKATA

Present 31 MembersAbsent Messrs G. CRONSTEADT

Ko KARAERUA. MALEREA. MALIUCo NAKOW. NALANT. TUNGUAo YOLOU

1. The Chairman welcomed ths members and opened the siting at 8.45 a.m. with Item 1 on tho Agenda.

2, The Chairman read the item and directed the members attention to tho

attached Motion No. 2. (ANNEX I).

3* The Chairman gave the floor to Minister KALKOA who presented theMotion oxplaining the reasons and duties of the two proposed Special Committees, the reason for reducing tho General Committee to eight members, and the reason for changing Articles 50 to 54 to provide for alternate memberso

4. Hr. M CARLOT asked for more information for tho reason of cancelling tho previous four Special Committees.5. Minister KALKOA asked Mr CARLOT what further details he required andho would ask the legal advisor who drafted the motion to answer the questions.

6. Hinistor KALPOKAS explained that tho previous committees were merely doing tho work which should be done by Government Departments.

7. Mr M. CARLOT said ho was still not satisfied that the four Committcos should bo abolished.

8. Mr V. BOULEKONE explained tho functions of tho previous four committees and opposed thG motion to cancel thorn. Ho also opposed giving too much power to the Gonoral Committoo whora there were only eight members doing the work of thirty-nino elected members.

- 2 - RA3/PV/4

9. Minister KALKOA explained that the Assombly has tho right to set up Ad Hoc Committees to look into any work that the formor committoos took care of if it was thought necessary or any other work tho Government wantod.

10. Chief Minister asked tho Chairman what 19 the rule about tho amount of time a member has to spoak on a motion. He suggested that any rule bo strictly adhered to so that time would not be wasted.

11. The Chairman explained that Standing Orders givo tho right to members to spoak twice on any motion and ha said tho proposer had tho right to bo last speaker.

12. Mr CARLOT said it is important that thoro was time to allow for members to spoak but it is important that there bo a good participation. Ho pointed out tho danger to tho country by cutting out tho Special Committees and giving power to a small toam to do tho work of tho 39 mombors.

13. Mr BOULEKONE explained that by setting up Ad Hoc Committees it was merely cancelling special committees and then replacing them with tho Ad Hoc Committees. Ho proposed that Article Nod3 should remain as it was.

14. Minister KALPOKAS said tho previous four committees woro for development but what is really needed now arc? committoos for reform.

15. Minister REGENVANU questioned the role of alternate members. Ho asked are thoy confined simply to take the place of a member in tho Zissembly or are thoy to work also in tho constituency.

16. Father LEYMANG questioned giving power to just eight mombors only to croatc the laws of the country. He boliovos that there was a mix up of legislative power and executive power and asked for more clarification by the logal advisor. Ho also asked if Article 29 still remainod.

17. Tho Chairman oxplained that Minister KALPOKAS has given notice that the proposal to dologato the legislative power to ths Genoral Committee has boon withdrawn.

18. Minister KALPOKAS askod that parts 1 and 2 of tho motion should not be mixed up as they were different subjects and ho withdraws tho section of the motion giving legislative powers to the Goneral Committoo as he now considers that this power should remain with the full Assembly.

3 RA3/PV/4

19. Chief Minister took tho opportunity to speak on the communique and speeches of the Opposition members mado the previous day. He said it appears thero is a groat fear of tho changes which tho Government have to make in the short time boforo Independence. Ho said he fools sure that if everybody and especially tho mombors of the Assembly examine and weigh carefully all the things that tho Government is trying to do agreement can be achieved. He said it is uery clear from the comments and statements made on tho previous day that there was a mistrust of tho Government he was loading. It was said that the Government was not logoi. Ho said it is quite clear that tho Govornmcnt in power, of which ho is tho Chief Minister, wa9 eloctod in November of last year legally and democratically. It appears from the communique issued yesterday that Messrs CARLOT, BOULEKONE and Father LEYMANG do not believe that tho Government was elected legally or democratically. He said the KALSAKAU Government and the Government of National Unity wore not democratically elected but wcro political Governments. Tho Government of National Unity was born out of political agreement but the Government in power today was chosen by the people. He wanted to ensure tho people of the Now Hebrides that everything this Government doos will bo done democratically. He pointed out to tho members of the Opposition that tho Government is a two-thirds majority elected by the pooplo. It appears from criticism made that it is thought tho present Government wanted to do away with French education. It is therefore apparent that tho Opposition members within the Assembly and some people in tho country have not listened carefully to statements made by the Government. He said it is mpst important that the problems and issues of Tanna and Santo must not be confused with tho Francophono/Anglophone issues. Ho said it appoars from the statements of Messrs BOULEKONE, CARLOT and Father LEYMANG, made on the radio the provious day, that thoy support tho evonts which havo takon placo in Tanna and Santo. He believes they aro mixing up tho problems in Santo and Tanna with the Francophone/Anglophone issuos and this can only result in dividing tho country still further. By thoir statements it would appoar they support civil disobedience and completely support and oncouragD tho pooplo who disoboy tho ardors approved and pas9od by the Government and support the secessionist groups of Santo nqd Tanna. Bacausa of this it is nocossary that Messrs BOULEKONE, CARLOT and Father LEYMANG toll the Govornmcnt and people of the country what is thoir position and where they stand as far as the evonts in Santo and Tanna aro concerned. Also ho would like to repeat

4 - RA3/PV/4

recent statements that tha Government has no power to enforce Law and Orderas this power is still in the hands of the Resident would like some proof from the MODERATE membors in tho do not support those events in Santo and Tanna because there

in Santo and TannaCommissioners * HoAssembly has bosn

that theyaccusations from Tanna and Santo that tho members attonding thearo the sama people who go back to Santo and Tanna and ancourago tho

He bolioves that tho UANUAAKUAssemblypeople who voted to breakaway and make troublePATI is now tho only true moderate party. Ho said ho had agreed with the British and French Governments that force would only be usGd as a last rosort whon all olso had failed. The Government had tried to opon discussions with

to reach agreement but those proposals that discussions can be held and

the Moderate loaders of Santo and Tannahad boon rejected. He is still hopoful differences solved and this can only beIt is very difficult that no Minister con visit Santo and evon he Minister, has been threatened that ho will bo of the Now Hobrides rests in tho hands of tho

dona by New Hebrideans themselves* , tho Chief

provontod or shot. Tho futuro Moderate and Uanuaaku Parties no mixing up of tho Francophone/ as they aro completely different French Resident Commissioner

□nd it is very important that there should bo Anglophono issues with the political problems issues. He is very surprised to sec that thethinks the same as the Modcrato leaders of tho country. Ho would like to toll the people of tho Now Hobridos again that his Govornmont is full of good will and ho is very sorry that tho Modorato Parties havo rojoctod it. His party right from tho beginning has preached non violcnco and as pooplo so called Moderate aro no longer moderate but hovo terrorists and violent and will become more and more so.

alroady stated the become extremists. Ho is afraid the

time might come whon people start killing one another bocauso tho Hodoratos Santo are divided, some following Jimmy and some following someone clso. is most important that people realise there was civil war in Santo it would

inItif

there is a division in Santo becausenot be a fightHa refuted the

against the Uanuaaku statement made lastFrench technicalfor his Government

arehi®and

Pati but one inside tho Moderate group night that his Government has not given any work to the advisors because most of tho French and British working

the same as those working for tho KALSAKAU and LEYFIANG Govcrnmonto. If Government is working slowly it is because they are trying to work safely be truly representative of all people who have boGn educatod French and

British. All tho Now Hobridoans who have boon Frunch and British oducatod andfully qualified are working inside the Govornmont and thora is still a need for lots of expatriates. Ho said that wc must face reality, for the noxt few years

5 RA3/PV/4

wc must work with expatriate advisors, if wo do not want British and French advisors wo can sond thorn out but wo would thon have to import others from another country. The Government sometimes must work slowly so as to obtain the fooling of ail tho people for if it wont too fast there could bo a '’boomerang" reaction against the Govornmont. As Inspector-General ROBERT and Messrs BOULEKONE, CARLOT and Father LEYMANG and Mr 0I30UD said wo must mako sure that the minority rights in tho country are rospected. Ho said we must romember that the Franch Govornmont was constituted through □ revolution not through a poacoful way and tho sama thing happen to tho British. Tho two

Governments who are ompoworod today are living in peace, but woro born out of war and wo do not want tho some thing to happen horo. So wc must make sure that tho French Government and tho Moderate parties here look at all the issues carefully. He said ho was not sure whather they aro satisfied with all tho assurances ho has given, ho has talkod in public, ho has signod agreements regarding Medical services and Education but he fuels they don’t scorn to trust the Government. Ho fools they need some more assurancos but does not know what they aro. Ho said his Govornmont will continuo to mako sure that tho country will bocome independent very 3oon end tho changes which will have to be mado will bo necessary. Bocau3e his Government was elected democratically thoy believed strongly in the idea of majority rule* He repeated that his Government is not a Govornmont born out of political agreements. Thera arc many people in tho Moderate parties who now have an unhappy reaction bocause thoy do not havo Ministors in the Govornmont, Ho said ho would like to clarify some of the confusion which could arise from tho spooch of Father LEYMANG and tho BOULEKONE communiquo of yesterday when they said that the Govornmont had dono nothing and had not prepared the Budget that was supposed to bo discussod during this session. Ho agrood that the budget is not ready, it is noccssary bocauso Indopondenco is soon but the accusation was not fair because tho last Govornmont was in powor until November last year and was responsible for tho preparation of the 1980 budget. Ho said his Government not only had to prepare this budget but has also to prepare all Laws noccssary for Indepondonco, Ho accepted the criticism mado by thoso threo members and was very happy to find constructive Opposition to tho Government and their stand and criticism will make the Govornmont work carefully, but at tho Bamc time ho would ask thorn to examine carofully tho accusations thoy havo made. His Government has not yot bought any now cars, a3 a matter of fact they aro trying to soil somo of tho cars bought by the previous Governments.It is also not truo that his Govornmont plans to have tho Queen of England

- 6 RA3/PV/4

an insult toelection andcompleted an

hisnot thoorder to

become the Head of State. He considers this accusation Party, telling them that the British Government won the Vanuaaku Pati. He advised that the Govornment has justensure that there will be an auditing of the 1978 and 1979 accounts and if the previous Governments did not use thoir money rightly this would ho proved by the audit. Also the Constitution says that an Auditor-Genoral shall bo appointed and the Government iB proporod to recruit tho Auditor-General. Tho

Chiof MinisterOpposition was afraid of the changes the Govornment was proposing to mako to

Standing Ordorin the hoarts of tho loaders of the Moderate party and all

Thoy soom to bo afraid of Vanuaaku Pati and it would appear this somoono is trying to docoivo tho 3upportorB of tho Moderate Party

Ho boliovos those people

aro trying to deceive tho Moderates do not belong to tho N@w Hebrides but

from abroad and whG hovo lots of money and remain in darkness.people of the Now Hebrides to carry

nevor see thorn in tho upon. He said

thon passed back to Motion No.2. Ho said it appeard the

Article 13 and thia foar does not seem to bo euporficial but

quite docpModerates.is bocausopurposely to mako thorn afraid of tho Vanuaaku Pati. who

aruthe

They incite knives and put out Namolo loavos but that with Independence coming soon mado quickly or tho work of tho

youchanges from tho Colonial System must boGovornment would bo hindered. It would also be a waste of money sending too much Government Departments work to small committees. As far aa tho Gonorel Committee was concerned it would cease on Independence. What happens now ia that the Ministers make draft Laws and submit thorn to tho Council ofMinisters then tho Council of Ministers pass them to a small committee which than passes it on to the Assembly, but what will happen is that Departments responsible will submit laws to tho Council of Ministers and tho Council will pass thorn direct into tho Assembly. Ho asked which do you think is the most democratic way and which one costa loss money?

20. Mrpolitical the Chief

CARLOT in reply to tho Chiof Minister said tho communique was a one designed to give constructive criticism but by the roaction of Minister it appears that ho doos not want any criticism within the

country and ha expects everybody to accopt everything hG and his Government decide. He aaid it was apparent that some of the paragraphs of the communique were not translated correctly for the Chief Minister and that he has misinterpreted tho communique. Ho said that tho communique ha and his colleagues had prepared did not involve tho affairs of the Metropolitan Governments nor of tho political problems of Santo and Tanna and it appears that he doos not havo the right to criticise tho Gavernmont outside.

7 RA3/PU/4

He said what ia being discussed this morning was one reality that they were trying to point out which appears on the Standing Orders of the Assembly but it appears that ths Government does not give consideration to anything brought up by someone outside of the Government and because the Opposition was opposing Motion No.2 they were wrong. He said it looks as though there are different classes of Assembly members and the eocond class members havB no rights. He said this did not make a democratic country but lookod like dictatorship. He said that the two points he wanted to make clear thia morning were firstly that the communique issued yesterday had been interpreted wrongly and the Chief Minister had criticised things that were outside of tho communique and secondly it appears that they must say amen to everything the Government tables in the Assembly.

The Chairman adjourned the sitting at 10.30a.m. and resumed at 10.50a.m. with Item No.1 on the Acenda.

21. Mr PREVOT said ho wanted to know more about the work of the two proposed committoes. He said he bolievod that tho General Committee would bo better to be used as it was before specifically on finonco. He supportedMr BOULEKONE's views and thought it bettor to keop the four special committees.

22. Tho Chairman then gave some explanations on Standing Orders of the Aesombly pointing out that with more than the proposed two committees thore would not be enough mombors in the Assembly to sit on them as no mombor can be on more than one special committoo.

23. Ministor KALSAKAU in reply to Mr PREVOT explained that tho Budgot Committee would examine tho Government budgets before thoy were presented to the Assombly. The Public Accounts Committee would examino the Auditor's reports and soc if the Government had beon using the money correctly concerning the Budget. The General Committee was thore so that the Assombly could pass on some powers to it to legislate. Ho pointed out that tho Opposition members wore worried about giving too much power to only sevon members on a committoo but ho snid the Opposition mombors who wers worried wore members of the previous Assombly and tho Budget for thoir Government was approved by tho General Committee and not by the Assombly.

24. Mr ANDENG said he was a member of the former General Committoe and explained tho manner in which it worked.

The Chairman then put part 1 of Motion No.2 to tho vote. It was passod with g6 in favour and, .5 against.

RA3/PV/4- 8 -

25. Tho Chairman than moved to part 2 of tho Motion.

26. Mr PREVOT asked what is tho reason for reducing the General Committee

from 10 to 8 members.

27. Minister KALSAKAU explained.

28. Mr PREVOT asked that if the Assembly set up another committeo would

this then increase tho number of members in the General Committee.

29. Minister KALSAKAU explained thot a member can belong to only one special committee but may belong to any numbor of Ad Hoc Committees.

30. Father LEYMANG asked for Chairman’s confirmation of Minister

KALSAKAU's explanation.

31. Minister KALSAKAU gave further explanation.

32. Mr BOULEKONE also oxplainod.

33. The Chairman also explained that tho General Committee would coese to exist on Independence.

34. Mr PREVOT clarified his question by saying he was referring to Spacial Committees only and not Ad Hoc Committees.

35. Tho Chairman explained that tho Assembly had just voted that there would be two Special Committees only and any othor committees that would be formed would now be Ad Hoc committees.

36. Mr BOULEKONE proposed that tho Attorney General redraft the motion giving the Assembly power to set up moro Special Committees if needed and that the General Committoo would then bo increased proportionally.

37. Chief Minister said he thought Mr BOULEKONE's proposal was good but ho could not see tho need for sotting up any more spacial committees in the short time between now and independence.

The sitting was adjourned at 11.30a.m. and resumed at 2.45p.m. with further discussion on section 2 of Motion No.2.

38. Mr PREVOT proposed that part 2 of Order No.26 of tho original Standing Orders should be studied as it was most important and should be retained.

39. Tho Chairman said ho understood that only tho numbors would bo changed i.e. in Order No.25 the number ton would bo reduced to oight and in OrderNo.26 the number six would bo reduced to five and that the rest of Order No.26 would bo retained.

RA3/PV/4- 9 -

40. Mr CARLOT said that tha wording of the Motion deletes completely the original Order No,26 and only replaces it with tho numbor of members to form tho quorum. The rest of tho original Order has boon completely deleted and he belioves it should be replaced in the amended order,

41. Mr BOULEKONE supported Mr CARLOT and said this part of the Motion

should be re-worded,

42. Minister KALKOA agreed.

43. Minister KALSAKAU moved and Minister REGENVANU seconded that Ordor

No.26 on tho Motion No,2 be amended to read as follows--"THE QUORUM FOR THE GENERAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE FIVE.DECISIONS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE TAKEN BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING. THE CHAIRMAN SHALL HAVE A CASTING VOTE WHERE THE VOTES ARE EQUAL".

Tho Chairman put the amondment to the vote. It was passed unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

The Chairman then jjut_all section 2 of Motion No,2 to tho vote. It was passed unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

44. Tho Chairman then moved to Section 3 of Motion No.2.

45. Father LEYMANG said he agroed with tho amondmnnts but thought the members putting this motion should find some way of adding the giving of proxy votes from a member to his alternate. Ho suggostod this could be inserted in Ordor 5D.

46. Minister KALSAKAU agreed that there was a need for semathing additional in the motion and gavo an example of a member representing tho Banks Islands who if he bocamo ill during a Session and his oltornato was in the Banks Islands then the member was denied his vote.

47. Hr PREVOT supported the last two speakers and proposed that Order Nos.50 to 54 bo retained as at present and that another place bo found to mention this question about an alternate member.

48. Mr BOULEKONE supportod Mr PREVOT.49. Minister KALKOA agreod that a new section could bo addod or perhaps it could be included in Ordor No.51,

50. Hinistor KALPOKAS proposed an addition to ono of ths articles reading;- "IN THE EVENT OF AN ALTERNATE MEMBER BEING UNABLE TO ATTEND INPLACE OF A MEMBER THE MEMBER MAY DELEGATE HIS PROXY TO A MEMBER NOMINATED BY HIM".

10 - RA3/PV/4

51. The Chairman suggested it could be inserted between Order Nos.50 end 51.

52. Minister KALSAKAU seconded tho amendment.

53. Chief Minister asked if advice on this could be obtained from the Legal Advisor as it is not advisable to put in something now which by tho

Constitution may have to bo taken out again lator.

54. Minister REGENVANU said it should be mado clear if tho work of tho alternate member was confined to the Assembly only otherwise it could be found that altornats members claim to be ablo to make official work 0I90, speaking in tho name of tho Govarrmont, outside of their constituency. He said thie should be made clear now to avoid confusion in the future.

55. Minister KALPOKAS said that the only person who has a right to pass on his vote is a member. The amendment proposed concerned the voto of a member not tho altornato.

56. Mr BOULEKONE supported what the Chief Minister had said.

57. The Chairman said there had been questions asked of the Legal Advisor but pointed out that Standing Orders do not porvide for anyone other than members to speak in tho Assembly or Parliament and for this reason the Attorney General who is present now will not be allowed to speak. He said advico may be asked only of the Resident Commissioners in tho House and hG suggested that perhaps provision for allowing legal advice to be hoard in the House could be providod for in tho future. He furthor pointod out that tho Constitution doos not provide for proxy votes in the Parliament and said that therefore on Independence proxy votes would cease to exist even if put in now.5B. Minister REGENVANU asked if it was not possiblo to provide somehow for the legal advisor to be able to talk in the Assembly when his advice was celled for.

59. Chief Minister agreed that the Standing Orders were correct and that any advico given by tho legal advisor should be given through the Chairman, therefore where advice was needed thoro should bo a small rocoss where the Chairman and the Legal Advisor could confer.

60. Mr PREUOT said that Standing Ordors provided for proxy votes and the question of alternates was something new and he agroed that tho Articles concerning proxy votes should remain and thought should now be given to a new chapter for alternate members.

11 RA3/PV/4

61. Pastor HOPP, spoke in support of Minister KALPOKAS1 amendment.

62. Mr BOULEKDNE supported what Mr PREVOT had said.

63. Chief Minister said it was not clear what were the rights of voting

for on alternate member and this is something that should now be given

thought.

64. Mr CARLQT said that there was confusion because two different things had been mixed up. One was that the original Orders concerned voting and the new proposed orders concerned alternate members. He agreed with the proposals of Messrs PREVOT and BOULEKONE.

65. The Chairman agreed that there could be somo confusion as there were two different questions being mixed up. He said the proposal before the House now was quite clear and there would be either altornatos representing members or thoro would be members who could not give proxios to another member. It was discussed before that there would either bo proxy votes or alternate mombors and it was politically agreed to havo alternates. So it is with altornatos that wo now work and it is up to the members to decide now if you want the two togsthor or just accopt tho motion as preeonted.

66. Minister KALSAKAU pointed out that the section 3 of this motion did not give a member a vote. Ho said that tho original Ordor 50 commoncod with tho words "THE VOTE OF MEMBERS IS PERSONAL TO THEM" so thoro must bo one soction now to give tho altornato tho right to vote.

The Chairman adjournod tho sitting at 3.40p.m. and resumed at 4.05p.m.

67. Tho Chairman pointed out that Order No.43 section (5) givos the right of mombors to vote and tho proposed new Ordor No.54 givos altornatos tho same rights of voting as tho member they arc representing. Hu also said ths ElDCticn Regulation givos the altornato membor tho right to vote in place of tho member he represents.

63. Minister KALPOKAS and Minister KALSAKAU withdrew thoir amendment.

69. Minister WOREK said ho could not understand why there could be any argument about delegating the right of vote to tho alternate member as this was surely tho reason why oach member nominated his alternate for the elections.

12 RA3/PV/4

Chairman than put section 3 of Motion No,2 to the vote. It was passed

with_ 21 in favour9 5 against and 5 abstontions_.

70. Father LEYMANG suggested that No.3 Itom on the Agenda bo oxamined

boforo No.2 Item.

71o The Chairman agreed and moved to Item No.3. (ANNEX 11)

72. Minister KALKOA oxplainod that the first resolution submittod had been withdrawn and rcplacod by an amended resolution which simply cancelled all powers previously delegated to the General Committee.

73. Mr BOULEKONE said he believed that the mooting was adjourned yesterday because some draft motion or rosolution was not ready and he questioned tho legality of this because by Standing Orders 30 days notice of draft resolutions should bo given to the members so that they may study it.

74. Tho Chairman explained that tho draft resolution produced this morning was to change the one previously issued and by Standing Orders members were able to ask for any change with tho consent of the Chairman.

75. Mr CARLOT askod was tho list of lews issued with tho first paper tobo cancelled or was it to bo attached to the new paper issued this morning. Ho also askod for confirmation that after tho Assembly had taken out tho powers from tho General Committee and given the Committee new work, that it would present its reports to the Assembly and the Assembly would moko tho decision.

76. Tho Chairman oxplainod that the resolution was to take away the previous powers dologatod to the Gonaral Committoe and aftor tho Committee was elected tho Assembly would then have to decide on what now powers it would givo to tho Committee.

Tho Chairman put the draft resolution to the vote and it was passed with 28 votop in favour and 3 abstontions.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4.40p,m. until 8.30a.m. the following day.

The Chairman

A - 1 —-Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA


ANNEX 1 TO RAJ/PVARAj/M/2-P (Ad.1) 18th February 1980 Original: English

MOTION No. 2

Put by: Hon. George A. KALKOA

Seoonded by: Hon. Donald KALPOKAS

That the Standing Orders of this House be amended

as follows

1. Delete Order No* 13 and substitute therefore the following:-

"13 (1) The Assembly shall each year elect from among its members the following Special Committees -(a) Government Budgets Committee;(b) Public Accounts Committee".

2. Delete Order Nos* 25 and 26 and substitute therefore the

following"25 The number of members of the Committee

shall be eightV

"26 The Quorum for the General Committee

shall be five. Decisions sf the General Committee shall be taken by a simple majority of the members voting. The Chairman shall have a casting vote where the votes are equal."


ANNEX II TO RAJ/PV/4 RA3/D/1-P (Am.2) 13 February 1980 Original: English.

DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. OF 1980

To remove power of the General Committee

of the Representative assembly.

The Representative Assembly at its sitting on the

...............day of February 1980, hereby resolves

and decides, in accordance with Articles 23 and 35*2 of the

Schedule t< the Exchange of Notes of 15th September 19771 to

adopt the following measures

SECTION 1. Tho Representative Assembly (Delegation

of Powers) Regulations No.7 and 9 of 1979 and the

Representative Assembly (Delegation of Powers)

(Amendment) Regulation No. 16 of 1979 are

repealed.

Put by! Hon. Minister George A. KALKOA


RA3/PV/5Original: English


Friday, 15 February, 19B0

Chairman Pastor Frod K. TIMAKATA

Present 31 MembersMessrs BOULEKONE and KALPOKAS arrived at 9.10a.m.

Absent Messrs G. CRONSTEADT

H KARAERUA MALEREft. MALIUC NAKObJ NALANT. TUNGUA. YOLOU

sitting at 8.50a.m. by moving on the Agenda which is Motion No.2.

The Chairman opened the back to Item 11

2 Minister KALKOA explained that the Standing Ordor No.62 statos that to suspend or modify Standing Orders of tho Assembly it noods to ba supported by 0 members and with the agreement of two-thirds of tho members. He askod tho Chairman what procoduro should they now follow and could tho dobate be re-oponed.3. The Chairman told Minister KALKOA that as he put tho motion ho should ask for seven more members ta support him and if so they would go back to discussion on this motion.

4.

with

Minister KALKOA asked for seven members to support him by standing up.

5 Messrs TAHI„ SERU, LINI( KALSAKAU, bJOREK, SANDY and REGENVANU stood Minister KALKOA to support tho motion.

6. Minister WOREK ask should two-thirds of the membars agree to rcopon discussion.

7. Hr CARLOTand said that itsaid he believed

agreed that the motion had boon supported by eight members did not require two-thirds agreement to it

He al30 pointed cut powers given to the then the wording of

right to go back to discussion about that ae Item No.3 on tho Agenda only General Committee and did not givo

opon discussion. He tho alternate members.cancelled out the□ny now powers to it

the Agenda should now bo changed from "DRAFT RESOLUTION TODELEGATE LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEE" to "DRAFT RESOLUTION TO

2 RA3/PV/5

REMOVE POWER OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE".0. The Chairman agreed with the change in thB Agenda and that discussion could now go back to Item 1 on the Agenda.

9. Chief Minister said the vote yesterday had been unconstitutional and he agreed that the Assembly should go back and disouss Item 1 again as the Constitution says that there must bo alternates and it does not give tho right of proxy votes. Ho said as far as the votes woro concerned yesterday it would appear that some members had not paid attention and did not understand correctly what the vote wsb for end he said it was most important that all members paid attention to tho debates as the work being done now is important to the country and to its future.

10. Minister KALSAKAU moved that section 3 of Motion No.2 concerning Orders 50 to 54 should be redroftod to tako earn of alternates and proxy voting.

11. Mr CARLOT seconded this proposal.

12. The Chairman suggestod that the Assembly go back and voto on Sections1 and 2 and then consider tho redrafting of Section 3.

13. Minister KALKOA said that Sections 1 and 2 had boan votod on yesterday and passed so ho suggestod that thoy pass on now to Section 3.

14. The Chairman pointed out that the whole paper had boon out of order bncauso it did not havo eight members supporting it. Now that the motion had been supported by eight people it was necessary to do the whole paper again.

15. Mr CARLOT said ho thought that tho Chairman meant that a voto bo taken on tho wholo papor but ho pointed out that Section 3 had not yet been votod on and voting had to bo section by soction.

16. Tho Chairman said, on a point of procedure, it is necessary now to do the wholo paper again.

Tho Chairman then called for a veto on Section 1 of I1otio_n No.2,Thoro wore 25 votes in favour and 4 against.

17. Tho Chairman considorod this as not having boon pessod bocauso it was not agrood to by two-thirds of tho membors of tho Assembly.

18. Chiof Minister said they appear to be at an impose and because of this he fieked ths Chairman if it were not passible to withdraw tho whole motion and redraft it and do the wholo paper again. He said thsro was too much confusion.

- 3 - RA3/PV/5

19. Mr CARLOT thought that this may be against procedure.

20. Mr BOULEKONE thought it hotter to reconsider ths motion and go back to vote on ths whole thing. Ho did not think the Assembly could change something that had been voted on. He did not see why the Standing Orders of tho Assembly could not bo left as they are for tho short time to Independence.

21. Chief Minister said it is alright to leave tho decisions taken yesterday but now they must look at some project-to change the Constitution because the docision token wos against one part of the Constitution which provides for alternate members. A paper will have to bo prepared and submitted to find out if it is roally necessary to have alternates.

22. The Chairman asked Mr BOULEKONE for clarification on hie point of procedure. Did ho consider the votes taken yesterday should standi.s. Sections 1 and 2 had passed and Section 3 was defeated or did he think that the vote taken this morning should stand and that moans Section 1 had not been passed.

23. Mr BOULEKONE thought that tho votes taken yesterday where there were two-thirds in favour should stand and whero thoro was not two-thirde that part of the motion is defeated. What is now to bo considered is what can be made out of the portions that have been passod if the whole motion is accepted by a two-thirds majority.He agreed with tho Chief Minister that a new paper should bo presented.

24. Minister KALSAKAU said he could net soo why the votes takon yesterday did not stand and what is needed now is to rodraft Section 3.

25. Minister KALPOKAS said that in his opinion the three sections were accepted yesterday as only a simple majority was needed when voting section by section and a two-thirds majority was only noeded when voting for the whole motion.26. The Chairman explained that tho procedure yesterday had been wrong bocause the motion had not boon supported by eight mombers and that is the reason ho put tho whole paper back again. Ho said the motion had now boon supported by oight members and he thanked Minister KALPOKAS for tho advice given and he agreed with him now that tho vote taken this morning had been passed.27. Mr CARLOT proposed that tho whole motion be redrafted and tho Assembly then consider it section by section again.

4 RA3/PV/5

20. Minister KALKOA proposed that he withdraw his motion and submit a new

one perhaps on Monday next.

29. Chief Minister said in his opinion the votos already taken were valid and that if the motion was redrafted it would only need one vote on the whole paper.

30. Minister KALPOKAS seconded Minister KALKOA1s proposal to withdraw the

motion and redraft it.

31. Mr 0OULEKONE proposed that the motion not be withdrawn but merely amended.

32. Mr TARITONGA agrocd with Mr BGULEKONE.

33. Minister KALKOA then withdraw his proposal.

34. Minister KALSAKAU proposed that Section 3 of the motion be redrafted to give a mombor tho right to pass on his vote to his alternate and if the alternate is not available then he can pass his vote to another member of the Assombly.

35. Ministor KALPOKAS seconded the proposal.

Tho Chairman put tho proposal to the vote and wa3 passed with 29 votes

in favour and 2 abstentions.

36. Tho Chairman then movod to Item 6 on tho Agenda which was a motionto join the Agenco do Co-operation Culturello at Technique (A.C.C.T.) (ANNEX I).

37. The Chief Ministor explained the reasons for joining the A.C.C.T. and said that Father LEYHANG had boon sont to tho last conforonce of this body as an obsoruor to gather as much information as possible for tho Government.

38. Father LEYMANG presented his report to the Assembly and informed the members that tho A.C.C.T. had accepted the Now Hebrides as a member and askod that it be formalised by tho Representative Assembly. Ho explained that the A.C.C.T. had a relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations and that the bridge betweon Anglophone and Francophono countrios had been already . established.

39. Minister KALSAKAU supported strongly tho motion and explained that it was obligatory for countrios joining the A.C.C.T. to spnak French and therefore, roferring back to provious talk in the Aseembly, the Now Hebrides was obliged to maintain the Fronch language.

5 RA3/PV/5

40. MinistBr KALKOA supported Minister KALSAKAU's explanation regarding

the maintaining of the French language in the New Hebrides.

41. Minister KALPOKAS said it was very important that when voting on this motion the members understood that at tho same time of joining there must be a correspondent or Agency of ths A.C.C.T. established hero. He suggested that Fathar LEYMANG carry on with the work already dono and lead any meetings here or receive any correspondence from the Agency so that anyone attending the meetings of the Agency in Parish or anywhors else will bo up to date with what is being done.

42. Mr SANDY said that the Now Hobridos should Join with the Commonwealth at tha same time as joining the A.C.C.T.

43. Chief Minister agreed with Mr SANDY and asked if the House could pass the motion to join the A.C.C.T. and tho motion to join the Commonwealth at the samD timo.

44. Minister KALKOA spooking in support of tho motion agreed with Mr SANDY and tho Chief Ministor.

Tho Chairman adjourned the sitting at 10.15a.m. and resumed at 10.45a.m.

45. Tho Chairman askud if the mombors would like to leave Motion 3 for tho timo being until the papers for the Commonwealth wore ready and then discuss both Motions 1 and 3 together.

46. Mr CARLOT moved that ths House should continue discussing Motion No.3 and vote on it before discussing Motion No.1 as he considered they were entirely different and could not be joined together.

47. Mr BOULEKONE supported Mr CARLOT,

48. The Chairman then continued the debate on joining the A.C.C.T.

49. Mr SANDY agreed that both motions should be studied separately and carefully.

50. Mr CARLOT asked the Chairman to ask the members if they wanted to discuss the two motions together.

51. Minister KALPOKAS said tho Assembly must bs vary careful that they do not join ono body and not tho other. Ho thoroforo suggested that both motions should be discusadd together.

RA3/PV/5

52. fir ANDENG agreed that it would bo bettor to study tho two papwre

together.

53. Ministor KALSAKAU did not agroo that both motions could bo discussed

together.

54. Nr TARITONGA agreed with Minister KALSAKAU.

55. Minister REGENVANU suggested that a vote on Motion 3 be taken now.

The Chairman put Motion No.3 to the vote and it was accepted

unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

56. The Chairman then moved to Item 8 on the Agenda - Date of Independence.

57. Ministor KALSAKAU explained that tho Government was not yot in a position to set a firm dote yot but ho asked if tho members would like to make any suggestions to tho Government.

58. Fathor LEYMANG asked for tho Chief Minister's opinion on this subjoct.

59. Chiof Ministor said tho Government still had tho torgot months of May, □uno or July in mind. Thore wore many laws to be passod before independence. Hu boliovod most of tho pooplo in tho islands would liko to soo indopondonco in May and ho felt suro that the Governments of Britain and Franco would liko to soo it in May also. Ho said it was easy for people to say they want indupendonco quickly but tho Government roalizod there was a largo amount of work to bo done first. Ho said many pooplo thought that with independence tho trouble in Santo and Tanna would be easily solved but tho ' Government wasnot sure of this as the problems in these two places was not now but had bsen thore for somo considerable time. Ho said ho was aware that tho committee sot up to organise independence colebrations were in need of a dato and the people who voted in tho VANUAAKU PATI wore expecting an oarly date but it must be understood that the Government must bo very careful when making a date that the people do not come back and say that tho Govornmont had not mado everything ready. Ho had hopes that in tho next Assembly session in April to discuss the Government Budget it may bo possible to announce a date.

60. Mr ANDENG said the people he represents did not want independence too quickly. He believed it better to obtain unity ir the country before independence bo that there would bo pcaco in tho country.

7 RA3/PV/5

61. Tho Chairman askod (*lr ANDENG if ho had a solution to solving all difforencos botwoon tho peoples of this country boforo independence.

62. Mr ANDENG said it wob just his opinion that everything should be ready and in its place beforo indepondonco. The possible solution ho suggested was to havo a law in front of us to control svorybody which would guide tho country through independence. He said he was ready to accept a date when everything is ready but neither he nor his people could accept a date while the country was divided.

63. Minister SERU said that tho Assembly had givon threo months. May,□uno or July as a target but he thought that the target should now be sot for one particular month which would holp tho Govornmont decide on a dato it would also assist tho Indopandonco Committoo.

64. Mr CARLOT said it was quite cloar what the Chiof Minister had said that the Government had not yot madD a dato for independence and it was thoroforo quito usoloss to discuss this subjoct further. Uhon the Govornmont produced a papor giving a clear proposal of a dato than tho Assombly could

take o decision.

65. The Chairman agrood that discussion should caaso on this subjoct.

66. Mr BOULEKONE thought that tho month of May was too soon. Ho said that there was a lot of work to be done before independence,. Tho Attorney Gonoral had prepared a big list of Laws that needed to bo pasBod beforo indepondonco and even if tho power was givon to a special committoo to pass thoso lews it would not bo possible to pass thorn beforo May, Juno or July. Ho believed indepondonco should come oftor July.

Tho Chairman again agrood that thoro would bo no more dobato on Indepondonco and adjourned tho sitting at 11.32a.m.

67. Tho Chairman rosumod the mooting at 2.35p.m, by telling tho members that only the English text paper of Itam 5 on tho Agenda was roady and askod the mombors if they wished to diBcuBs this Item now or await the French translation later in the afternoon.

63. Mr BOULEKONE complninad that he only recoived the documents concerning tho A.C.C.T. in English and now ho only had the documonts concerning the Commonwealth in English also. He said all documonts are supposed to be givon out about a month beforo the Session begins and at least two weeks boforo.He asked for some explanation about this. Ho insisted that all documonts must bo received before the Assombly bogins so that they can bo studiod.

- 8 - RA3/PV/5

69. Chief Minister explained that the Government Translation Department was badly understaffed. He explained that the Chief Translator had loft a few days before and the French Government had not yet been able to provide a translator but aro trying to recruit ono vory quickly. He said that if anyano in ths New Hebrides can translate English into French he would be glad to have them call on his Ministry. Ho said that they must always try to follow the rule correctly but with a practical reality such as this it ia inevitable that tho rule is broken.

70. Minister KALKOA said he thought it only fair to await on the French translation of documents concerning Item 5 on the Agenda so as to give tho francophono members a chonco to study this subject.

71. Ministor KALPOKAS said as a matter of principle all papers must bo in tho two languages. If the Fronch translation is not ready then ho proposed that this item be loft till lator on.

72. Ministor KALSAKAU supported Ministor KALPOKAS.

73. Chiof Ministor said that with tho amount of work tho Translation Department had it was impossible to tell when this papor would bo roady but if the members wished this could be left to the next sitting of tho Assembly.

74. The Chairmon said ha thought tho translation had boon finishod and it waa now a matter of having it typod and it could bo ready lato this afternoon and if too Into then it could bo discussod on Monday,

75. Mr CARLOT in support of Mr BOULEKONE said ho was not satisfied with tho Chiof Minister's answer.

76. Thp_. Chairman than moved to Itom No.7 on tho Aqonda - Election of Electoral,Committee. He presented a paper suggesting the composition of the committee (ANNEX II).

77. Minister KALKOA asked how many would there bo from each group. Would it be four?

70. The Chairman explained that Article 91 of the Constitution gavo equal reproeontation to oach political group.

79. Minister KALKOA wondorod how this could bo done as tho VANUAAKU PATI was fully represented in tho House but tha OPPOSITION was not.

00. Tho Chairman said that Article 91 did not rofor to members ofParliament only

9 RA3/PV/5

81. Minister NAUPA said that the groups proposed wero the same as those who made up the Constitution Committee and they were regarded as political groups so ho was willing to accopt them.

82. Minister KALKOA asked why are tho Council of Chiefs and Christian Council included as political groups.

83. The Chairman said tho Constitution states political groups not partios and he considers tho Council of Chiefs and Christian Council as political groups not partios.

84. Minister KALKOA said ho did not consider thoro was any difforonco botwoon political group and political party. Ho said that the Churches were a group that could bring pressuro on the Government if they thought something was wrong but a political group ar party could demand rights. He agreed that the two groups could come in to talk at tho Committee meetings but ho did not consider them as political groups.

85. Minister KALSAKAU said tho interpretation of groups was completely wrong as the recommendation gave tho minority Opposition partios moro members an the committee than tho majority VANUAAKU PATI. Ho disagrood with tho rocommendation.

86. Minister SERU did not agroe that tho N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs were political groups and said they should be taken out. Ho also said that the Opposition parties sometimes called themselves Foderal and sometimes Moderate but in fact thoy wore all one political group and should bo grouped together. Thero should only bo two groups and they are VANUAAKU PATI and tho FEDERAL/MODERATE party group.

87. Ministor REGENVANU agreed that tho N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs were not truly political parties but ho was frightonod that two vory important groups would not have a say in tho committee as thoy would play a very important rolo in tho work of the committee. Ho could soo no objection to tho Churches and Chiefs boing roprosontod. He also agreed with Minister SERU that all the small Opposition parties should be grouped together as Fadoral group.

88. Minister NAUPA agreed with both Ministers SERU and REGENVANU.

89. The Chairmen said thore was a typing error in tho recommendation as NAKAMAL and TABWEMASSANA should bo grouped togothor os a single group.

10 RA3/PV/5

90. Mr BOULEKONE suggostod that it be left os it is and all political parties or groups should submit proposals to tho Chairman boforo tho end of March and than it could bo discussod further.

91. Tho Chairman said that tho groups must bB defined firstly before any numbers could bo decided on.

92. Minister KALPOKAS said it was tho right of the Assembly to choose thogroups and it should be only those roprosontod in the Assembly.

93. Minister KORISA said that only tho parties established now should borepresented and he agrood that all small Opposition parties should bo grouped under tho Federal Party.

94. Pastor HOPA askod that those who constituted tho Constitutional Committee last year could give an oxplanation as to what they meant as political groups.

95. The Chairman again explained that Articlo 91 did not rofar to members of tho Assembly only. It was only that the Assembly set up the Committee.

96. Pastor HOPA said it was important that tho N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs be on the committee and they could perhaps bo callod different names.

97. Tho Chairman said it was not possible to change anything statod in ths Constitution.

98. Mr CARLOT said it was not clear in tho Constitution whether the groups should be from tho Assembly only or there could ba groups from outside as well. He agreed that N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs should participate in the committee and suggest they bo regarded as social groups with political opinion.

99. Minister KALSAKAU restated ho did not agree with the distribution of members as tho VANUAAKU PATI would have only 4 members and tho Oppositionhad 12 membors. Ho disagreed with the proposals which tho Chairman presented.

100. Mr BOULEKONE said thoro should be a law whoroby political partios should have to register thoir namo otc. and with thoir committeo it should bo published far the knewlodgo of the population. . He believod that tho Constitution oxpoctod such a law to bo passed before indopondonco and that Article 91 was referring to these political partios.

11 RA3/PV/5

101. Mr ANDENG said that N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs should remain but they should not bo classed as political groups.

102. Minister WOREK agrood with Minister KALPOKAS that the members should

be from within the Assembly.

103. Chief Minister said it was clear in the Constitution that thoro was to bo equal representation it doos not stato proportional representation. Iilhet is to be decided is what are the groups and these should not includo tho Councils of Churches end Chiefs. He believed that thoro was only three political parties and they are UANUAAKU PATI, FEDERAL and NAKAMAL Partios all other small parties worn included in the Federal -Party and Nakamal included N'MAKI ALITE and other small groups. Ho said those three groups aro all roprosontod horo in tho Assembly. Ho did not agree with tho Minister of Finance that tho majority party should have more members than the other groups. Equal representation was a compromise agrood to by tho Vanuaaku Pati during Constitution discussions. He agrood with Mr CARLOT that tho N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs should be separated from the other groups and shouldbe classed as social groups with political views.

104. The Chairman agreed that there should be throe political groups only and ho adjourned tho sitting at 4p.m. and resumed at 4.20p.m.

105. Tho Chairman announced that the Assembly would hoar tho first throe entries recommended by tho committoe in the National Anthem competition and closed tho sitting at 4.30p.m. to hold on informal mooting.

Tho Chairman

Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA


ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/SRA3/M/3-P8 January 1980 Original; English

MOTION No. J

Put by: Hon. Walter H., LINI

Seconded by! Hon. George A. KALKOA

WHEREAS by an Exchange of Notes dated the 23rd day of October

1979 the Government of" the Republic of France and the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland agreed that the

New Hebrides should become a sovereign and independent state on

a date in 1980 to be determined NOW LET IT BE RESOLVED BY THE

REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY that the New Hebrides shall apply to

become a member of tho Agence de Co-operation Culterelle et

Technique on the day of Independence,

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this House request the Government

of the Republic of France to notify tho Secretary-General of the

Agence de Co-operation Culterelle et Technique of the wish of

the New Hebrides to join the Agence de Co-operation Culterelle

et Technique AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this

Resolution be dispatched to the Secretary of State for DOM TOM

through his Honour the French Resident Commissioner.

ftSTRUCTURE

BO

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

I GENERAL

TASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL

(

SPECIAL PROGRAMME

—nPLANNING

N.B. B.I.S. = Bordeaux International SchoolP.N.C.L. = Promotion of National Cultures and languages.

ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/5 Original: French

A.C.C.T.

(Agence de Cooperation Culturelie et Technique = Cultural and Technical Cooperation Agency)

The ACCT is a body which consists of about 30 member states, associated

states, participating governments and new-country members throughout the world who for one reason or another use the French language.,

Every three years the agency organises a conference in each of the member countries attended by the majority of these countries, which are linked by a linguistic bond, unlike other bodies where the link is

regional or socio-economic.

The aims of the agency are in harmony with those of the United Nations

conf erence.

Establishment of the AgencjrThis body was set up in the nineteen sixties as a result of the gradually increasing awareness in certain quarters of the potential inherent in tho use of a common language. On the basis of this realization, a number of public or private initiatives were taken which led to the establishment of specific relations among those countries where French is the language used. At a meeting in January 1968 the Hoads of State of the O.C.A.M. countries planned for tho first time to hold an annual conference of francophone heads of state. Initially they requested that the national Minister of Education should hold a mooting to discuss possible ways of setting up the organisation. In application of this resolution, one year later, on 17th February 19&9, the first conference of fully or partly francophone countries was opened in Niamey (Niger), which was attended by 28 states. This conference approved in principal the establishment of a cultural and technical cooperation agency based on "respect for the sovereignty of states, and national or official languages", and the aim of which was "to promote and diffuse the culture of each country or groups of countries represented within the organisation".

2 ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/5

The second conference met from 16th to 28th March, 1970 in Niamey, at which, conference the ACCT was established, its statutes adopted and its initial programme of work submitted.

The Agency's HeadquartersThe headquarter of the agency's secretariat are in Parisi ACCT,19 Avenue de Mossine, 75008 PARIS. TEL. 227*90.58.

Working LanguageThe working language of the agency and all its bodies is French.

Aims and Principals of the ACCTThe aim of the ACCT is to promote and diffuse the cultures of, and

increase cultural and technical cooperation between, the different member countries and states. The agency should embody a new solidarity and be a means of bringing people together through continual cultural exchanges. The members of the agency decided that this cooperation should be situated in the context of respect for the sovereignty of

states and their originality.

The motto adopted was: equality, complementarity, solidarity.

Role1. The agency should work essentially towards cultural, economic

and social development in the rural societies which occupy an important position in the majority of member countries# Its three main fields of action are education, the promotion of national cultures and languages, and economic and social development,

2. It must first of all keep its members informed.

Priorities1, The agency encourages training with a view to development in its

member countries on the understanding that the least privileged shall bo the first to benefit from this effort.

2. The agency must draw up as complete a list as possible of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation activities carried on in francophone countries, of the cultural and technical cooperation

- 3 - ANNEX I TO BA5/PV/5

resources available to its members (universities, institutes, training centres, etc...) and their overall personnel resources (teachers or experts). This active supply of information would be carried, out by means of exchanges between members with the assistance and, if they so desire, through the channel of the agency.

Aims

1, to meet tho priority needs of the population of member states2, to make tho agency*s activities as economically viable as possible

J. to increase its international impact4, to cooperate with international organisations and associations5, to assess activities already undertaken and applications from

member states,6, to increase the self-regenerating effect of the various activities.

Programmes

The agency should first of all concern itself with the vast majority of the under-privileged who constitute the rural population. Programmes are grouped in three main fields:1, Education and scientific and technical cooperation2, Economic and social developmentJ. Promotion of national cultures and languages,

Functions of the ACCTThe task of the agency is to study information, to coordinate and put plans into effect, through its bodies. It is empowered to do every thing necessary, appropriate or suitable for the attainment Of its objectives and has the following powers:

a. Periodically draw up and publish inventories of the resources of the francophone world in all fields in which it is competent.

b. Propose the pooling of some of the intellectual, technical and financial resources of its members for the carrying out of development programmes which will be of benefit to all its members.

4 - 4 - ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/5

c, Build up its own moans of distributing as widely and quickly as possible to all its members information in the fields of science,

teaching and technology.d, Make available to its members additional training and refresher

resources,e, Contribute to the establishment of joint scientific and technical

research bodies, of means of benefitting from research, and of

communication,f, Act as a permanent venue for meetings and exchanges between

specialists in various disciplines and those nationally responsible

for activities in the educational, cultural, scientific and

technical fields,g, Initiate or encourage the coordination of all members’ efforts

and resources, particularly in vital sectors of research, in technology, education and communications, likewise in the study of

development problems,hB Encourage reciprocal knowledge between peoples by the use of

mass communications media, education and original exchange methods*

i. Facilitate government's full access to sources of cooperation, both bilateral and international and, where necessary, carry out specific programmes of multilateral assistance,

j« Make efforts to maintain all links with organisations or associations which are active in the same field as the agency to ensure as great a degree of coherence and economic viability as possible of all activities.

k. Carry out any other function which accords with the aims of the agency which may be entrusted to it by the General Conference,

l, Organise end facilitate the supply to member states of the necessary resources particularly for training of teachers and specialists in French language and culture.

Budget and Expenditure1. Every two years the agency's secretariat prepares and submits to

the Board of Management the agency's financial report and budget estimates. The Board of Management examine these and transmits them to the General Conference with whatever recommendations it considers appropriate.

- 5 - ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/5

2. The financial report and the estimates are prepared by the Secretariat in accordance with the financial regulation adopted by

the General Conference.3. The agency’s expenditure is divided among its members according to

scale which will be decided by the General Conference.4. With the Board of Management's authority, the Secretary-General can

accept any gifts, legacies or subventions made to the agency by governments, public or private institutions or private individuals. The administration of these funds by the secretariat is governedby the agency’s financial regulation.

BudgetTho total budget figure was 56,650,000 FF for 1978 (i.e. 915,555,546 FF) and 63,400,000 FF for 1979 (i.e. 1,024,646,454) only 30$ of which were devoted to recurrent expenditure.

,^-P. Budget for, the 1978/1979 Programme

Sector : FF FNH

Current : 300 000 4 848 485

Recurrent :17 000 000 274 747 472

Activities: Documentation:External relations: Publications : 1 375 000 22 189 899

Educational development : 4 292 436 69 372 702

Bordeaux International School :1O 925 000 176 565 655

Specific Programmes: Lebanon, Comores, Djibouti : 2 735 000 44 202 020

Cultural and Language Promotion : 6 491 000 104 905 089

Scientific and Technical Cooperation : 2 067 564 33 415 175

Development : 9 319 000 150 610 100

Internal Youth Festival : 1 897 000 30 658 580

Investments : 6 250 000 101 010 100

TOTAL.......... :62 650 000 1' 012 525 242

- 6 - ANNEX I TO RAj/PV/5

Signature, Ratification and Membership

1. Any state in which French is the official language or one of the official languages, or a state which habitually and commonly uses the French language, may subscribe to the convention by means of:

a. Signature without any condition of ratification or approval;b. Signature conditional upon ratification;c» Joining within three years of the coming into force of the

convention.

2. Ratification or membership shall become effective when an official instrument is lodged to that effect with the government of the country where the constitutional conference was held or the government shall transmit a copy to all members.

The ACCT convention provides for two categories of state; member states and associate states.

Membership of the ^ACCT

Member states • Associated states : Participating Governments :New Country iMembers

CANADAHAITISENEGALIVORY COAST

: CAMEROONS: LAOS«

: QUEBEC: NEW BRUNSWICK■■

.•ZAIRE:DJIBOUTI

:COMORES

MALI ■UPPER VOLTA *•TOGO •

BENIN *•NIGER •

GABON •*CHAD ••CENTRAL AFRICAN :EMPIRE

BELGIUM ••LUEMBOURG •FRANCE •

MONACO ••


TUNISIALEBANONVIETNAMRWANDABURUNDISEY CHELLESMAURITIUS

N.B.: This is ths 1977 list of member countries, since when other

countries have joined ACCT.

Regional Offices

The General Conference may when necessary set up offices in the various geographical areas represented within the agency. The Conference shall, at the proposal of the Board of Management, decide on the site, composition, functions and method of financing such regional offices.


The agency includes: 1.2.

3.

BODIES

The General ConferenceThe Board of ManagementThe Programmes CommitteeThe Advisory Committee

5* The Secretariat6. Any other subsidiary body which the Conference

may consider useful for the proper functioning

of the agency.

Composition of the ACCT

General ConferenceThe General Conference consists of all the members of the agency.

Observers and consultants take part in the sessions of the General Conference and may speak, unless the conference objects, but may not vote.

PowersThe General Conference is the supremebody of the agency. Its main

functions are as follows:1. To organise the agency's activities.2. To approve the working programme.3. To control the financial policy, examine and approve the budget and

the financial regulation.Decide on the admission of new members, in application of the charter.

5. Decide on tho admission of observers and consultants and determine what their rights and obligations shall be.

6. Tp fix the scale of contributions.7. Sot up any subsidiary body necessary for the proper functioning of

the agency.8. Appoint the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General, tho

members of the Programme Committee, the number of members of which it shall also decide, and the Member of the Advisory Committee,

9. Decide on the composition of other subsidiary bodies of the agency.10, Amend the charter.11, If necessary appoint liquidators of tho agency in case of liquidation.12, Change the headquarters of the agency.13, Take proper measures for the achievement of the agency's goals.

9 ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/5

Meetings1. The General Conference meets at least once every two years on a

date it fixes at its previous session or at the request of at least half tho members of the agency addressed to the current chairman of the Conference,

2. Every member must bo represented by a Ministerial delegation including if possible representatives of the authorities concerned by the

agency’s activities.• The General Conference elects its chairman and the other members of

its committee at the beginning of each meeting. They remain in those posts until tho following conference.

4, It adopts its own standing orders,5. It fixes the place of date of the following session.

, Toting1. Each member has one vote at the General Conference.2, All decisions of the Conference must be taken by a majority of nine

tenths of the members present and voting; absentions are not counted as vote.

Board of Managcment

CompositionEvery member shall be represented on the Board of Management by a person who is technically qualified in the agency’s fields of activity. This representative may be accompanied by an alternate and advisors. When the Secretary General has discharged his functions, he may without

♦

further formality participate, but without tho right to vote, in the debates and the decisions of the Board of Management.

FunctionsThe Board of Management is the executive body of the General Conference and shall account to the latter for the development of the agency’s programmes, and for the use of its budgetary resources in accordance with the Conference’s decisions. Its principal functions are:

• 1. To ensure tho carrying out of the General Conference’s decisionsand supervise the agency’s programmes in accordance with those

decisions.

10 ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/5

2. Examine the agency’s working programme and make appropriate

recommendations on the subject to the General Conference.3. Examine the financial reports and budget estimates.

Advise the General Conference on the agency’s financial policy*5. Make proposals to the General Conference on the subject of the

agency’s policy.6. Examine and adopt the provisional agenda of meetings of the General

Conference.

Meetings

1. The Board of Management meets at least once a year on a date fixed

by itself or at the request of at least one third of its members addressed to the current chairman of the Board.

2. The Board of Management elects its chairman and the other members of its committee at the beginning of its meeting; they continue to exercise their functions until the following session fo the Board.

3. The Board of Management shall adopt its own internal standing orders. It fixes the place and date of the following meetings.

Voting

Decisions of tho Board of Management are taken by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting; absentions are not counted as votes.

Programmes Committee

CompositionTho Programmes Committee consists of up to fifteen persons, who are

4

specialists in cooperation techniques, and who are chosen and appointed

by the General Conference by reason of their personal and thorough knowledge of matters dealt with by the agency.

Functions

The Programmes Committee is principally responsible for assisting the General Gbnference in defining the nature of the agency’s activities and the means of carrying out its working programme.

• In this capacity it advises the Secretariat in designing the agency’sprogramme and examines projects written by the Secretariat.

/

11 ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/5

The Secretariat calls the meetings of the whole or part of the

programme committee when necessary and at least once a year at the

most convenient time.

Advisory Committee

Composition

The advisory committee consists:1. Of de jure mombors: any non-governmental international association

or organisation which tho general conference has designated as a

consultant may appoint a representative to the advisory committee.

2, Designated members: persons who are known for their competence and achievements in one of the agency’s areas of activity may be called upon to be members of the advisory committee by tho general

conf erence.

Functions

The principal function of tho advisory committee is to ensure efficient cooperation between the agency, the non-governmental international

organisations and associations whose tasks and activities are similar to those of tho agency. In the connection it will be called upon to give advice and make suggestions to the general conference and the

secretariat on the agency’s spheres of action, working programme and methods of execution.

Procedure

1. The advisory committee shall meet once every two years.2. The advisory committee elects the chairman for the session and the

other members of the committee at the beginning of each meeting.3. The advisory committee shall fix the date of its next meeting after

consulting tho secretariat,.

The Secretariat

1. Tho Secretariat consists of the secretary-general and assistant secretaries-gencrol. The secretariat is assisted by the administrativ and technical personnel necessary for the proper functioning of the agency.

12 - ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/5

2. The Secretary-gonoral and tho assistant secretaries-general are appointed by tho general conference for a period of four years on terms to be approved by the conference. That may be reappointed

twice.3, The Secretary-general and the assistant secretaries-general shall

jointly be responsible for the administration of the agency. The secretary-gonoral shall chair meetings of the secretariat. He

represents the agency in official acts.He shall be de jure secretary of the General Conference, the Board of Management, the Advisory Committee and all subsidury bodies of

the agency. He may delegate his functions.5. He is responsible for preparing and carrying out the agency's

working programme.6. He prepares the budget estimates and the financial report of the

agency.7. He appoints the agency’s personnel in accordance with the

organisation plans approved by the General Conference. The personnel's terms of employment are submitted to the General Conference for approval. In allocating posts the geographical composition of the agency should be borne in mind.

8. The responsibilities of the Secretary-General, the Assistant Secrotaries-Goneral and the staff are of an exclusively international nature. In the carrying out of their duties they shall neitherask for nor receive instruction from any government or any authority outside the Agency. They must abstain from acts of a nature to comprise their status as international civil servants. All members

of the agency undertake to respect the international nature of the functions of the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the carrying out of their duties.

Member states and Participating

1, All states who are parties to the convention are members of the Agency2. Any state which has not become a party to the convention, may

become a member of the Agency if it is approved by the General

Conference.


3. In full respect for the sovereighty and the international competence

of member states, any government may be accepted as a participating government in the institutions, activities and programme of the

agency, on condition it is approved by the member state responsible for the territory over which the participating government in

question exercise its authority and according to the method agreed between that government and the government of the member state.

4. Any member government of the Agency may withdraw as provided by the convention.

5. Likewise any other member may withdraw from the Agency by informing the government of the country where the constitutional conference was held or the government of the country where the agency head

office is, at least six months before the next meeting of the General Conference. Withdrawal shall take effect six months after

such notice is given. However, the member in question is still required to pay tho total amount of contributions owed.

Observers, Associates and Consultants

1* Any government of a state which is not a party to the convention may, upon its request, be admitted by the general conference as an observer.

2. Any state which wishes to be associated with certain of the agency’s activities may enter into an agreement with the agency fixing the method of its participation in such activities.

3. The General Conference may confer the title of consultant on any international organisation or any non-governmental association which

makes application to that effect and whose activities are compatible with those of the agency.

4. The nature and extent of observer’s and consultant's rights and obligations shall be laid down in the Charter and the General Conference.

Note:

Bordeaux International School

Tho international school at Bordeaux is an institution attached to the

ACCT which, when it was first set up, was intended to enable responsible

/


staff from the member countries of the agency to meet and improve their knowledge in tho fields of company management and international cooperation. From 1972 to 1975 the school helped to train 4^3 people. In 1976 the international school's programmes were reduced in length and it began to increase the number of subjects covered. This tendency increased in 1977 as for 1976 and 1977 alone the school trained more than 350 people and covered than 15 subjects. The programming for 1978 sought to meet member state's needs more closely and also tried to diversify the teaching methods used and the subjects covered and sought to ensure that a large number of persons benefitted

from the services it was in a position to offer.The 1979 and 1980 programming sought to continue the activities the school had already undertaken. It also included provision to make a

greater call on high level specialist consultants.However more than half its operational budget was left unallocated so

as on one hand to moot as yet unknown needs and on the other to intensify the process of integrating Bordeaux international school as a teaching tool into tho programmes of the other parts of the agency.

Setting up of a special programme

In 1979 a special programme was set up at Port Louis which is fed by voluntary contributions from member countries. It is used for under taking initial operations in the fields of teahnical assistance, training and refresher courses. The minimum amount required by the internal regulation is 6 million French Francs (i.e. 97,200 000 FNH), This is made available to member states for states for rapid action to be taken.

Dis advantages _o f_ _theACCT

1. One of danger of the ACCT is that it is linguistic, therefore specific to certain countries whereas other bodies are regional or sub-regional.

2, The agency is criticized for being an international roganisation which deals more with administration than with programmes and is

thus just as expensive us other international bodies.

- 15 - ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/5

3. One of the dangers is that of duplication of the activities of the member governments of the agency, and those carries out through international cooperation, either bilateral or multilateral, and also of trespassing on the sovereighty or competence of the

individual governments.

It is criticized for implementing programmes for direct action which are too big and which involve too high expenditure,

5. Another criticism is that the agency cannot do everything nor undertake too many activities simultaneously.

6. It is criticized for hasty preparation and carrying out of

programmes.

Advantages of the ACCT

1. The setting up of a special development programme made possible by

voluntary contributions and placed at the disposal of member

states for rapid intervention.2. Use of the French language is one of the major assets, in that it

enables member countries to become collectively aware of their vital interests in matters of cultural, economic and social development. This makes cooperation based on solidarity possible with the special characteristic of being "reversible" and not "one way".

3. The flexibility of the ACCT makes it more suitable than other bodies for rapid intervention in the field, and thus demonstrates to the population what the advantages of pooling their resources can be.

4. A preoccupation with being realistic and efficent, bearing in mind the agency's financial resources.

5. The agency could in specific, limited areas where gaps or deficiencies become evident, be responsible for certain operations of an exemplary value or which could not be undertaken by any other means. This field of activity could be extended as it is tested, while remaining exclusively of a cultural and technical nature.

6. It should contribute in particular to the establishment of permanent and fruitful relations between countries which have hitherto not had

any occasion to work together.


Procedure for joining the ACCTFather LEYMANG, representing the New Hebrides at the ACCT Conference in LOME (TONGO) in December 1979, was there as an observer, as the New Hebrides admission to the agency as a member state remains subject to the approval of the Council of Ministers and the representative

Assembly on 1Jth February next.

Tho ACCT will be holding an extraordinary meeting from 25th to 27th

March next in Paris to approve the 1980 budget and to decide on the admission of other states or governments (in particular the New Hebrides

and Dbminica) as members of the agency.

If the New Hebrides Representative Assembly is in favour of joining the

ACCT, the Chief Minister should then address an official letter to the agency’s Secretariat Headquarters, informing out of the decision taken by his government as regards the New Hebrides' joining the agency.

The ACCT Secretariat will invite the New Hebrides Government to send

a representative to its extraordinary meeting in Paris, WhenMr, NOTHOMB, who is responsible for the agency’s international relations, visited the Chief Minister’s office on 31st January 1980 he expressed the wish that two New Hebrides representative of Ministerial level should

attend the extraordinary meeting (and perhaps two representatives of foreign affairs also) to observe the debates and the voting by the agency's member countries on the subject of New Hebrides' membership.

Tho New Hebrides mission which will go to Paris in March will therefore has its principle purpose, the official signing of the New Hebrides Government’s membership of the Agency.

Mr. NOTHOMB, on boholf of tho Agency, proposed that for an interim period, Father LEYMANG should be the official "correspondent" of the

ACCT in the New Hebrides and that furthermore any correspondence from tho agency should naturally be addressed to:

- the Chief Minister- the Minister of Education- the Foreign Affairs departmeni- and the New Hebrides embassy

in Europe if relevant.


Additional details, concerning the budget and the New Hebrides

contribution

Tho agency’s budget is divided up in the following way: 95% for large states such as France, Canada, Belgium..2% for long-standing members of the agency such as the African countries

for small States and governments.

The New Hebrides contribution as a member of ACCT would form part of

the 3% and would amount to 200.000 FF, i.o. approximately 3<500«000 FNH.

N.B,

It is important to note that the ACCT works in close collaboration

with the Commonwealth Secretariat particularly in those fields which concern scientific studies. For example: the study of medicinal plants which has been undertaken; the two bodies are prepared to give a ^.000.000 FF subvention (2.000.000 FF each) in order to encourage the regional body (ORSTOM) to complete this study.

It should also be noted that the ACCT and the Commonwealth Secretariat meet every two months in order to pool their programmes of activity and deal with their common problems.

The Budget - Special Programme

• The agency’s budget went from 9t2OO,OOO FF in 1971 to 66.800.ooo FF

in 1979. It is fed by the member state's contributions.The special development programme’s budget amounts to 827.ooo FF for 1979. There are at present about a hundred international civil servants, nationals of the member . countries, working for the

Agency.

NEW HEBRIDESREPRESENTATIVEASSEMBLY

ANNEX II TO RA3/PV/5RAj/WP/ROriginal: English4 February 1980

Explanatory Note

E ection of Electoral Committee (as rovided in Article 91 of the Constitution)

ARTICLE 91: After the general elections next following the Exchange of Notes providing for the entry into

force of this Article, the Representative Assembly shall set up a Committee with equal

representation of all political groups to make recommendations on an electoral system based on

Article 1? (1).

The recommendations of the Committee shall be

included in a law enacted by Parliament by a two-thirds majority of its members at a special sitting of Parliament when at least three-fourths of the members are present. If there is no such quorum at the first sitting, Parliament may moet and make a decision by the same majority a week later oven if only two-thirds of the members are present.

ARTICLE 17 (1) Parliament shall consist of members elected on the basis of universal franchise through an electoral system which includes an element of proportional representation so as to ensure fair representation of different political groups and

opinions.


ANNEX II TO RAJ/PV/5 RA3/WP/J15 February 1980 Original: English

Explanatory Note

ELECTION OF ELECTORAL COMMITTEE

Article 91 of the Constitution says that the Committee will

have equal representation of all political groups. The Assembly

is therefore asked to accept the following as being political

groups:-

VANUAAKU PATI

FEDERAL PARTY

NAKAMAL PARTY

TABWEMASSANA PARTY

NEW HEBRIDES CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

COUNCIL OF CHIEFS

There being six (6) groups it is further suggested that each

group nominate four (4) people as representatives making a total

committee of twenty four (24).

Chairman

Now Hebrides Represontativo Assembly ,

RA3/PU/6Originals English


Monday, 19 February, 1990

CootItem

ChairmanProsontAbsent

Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA31 MomborsMessrs G CRONSTEADT

H.A.A.C.W.

T.A.

KARAERUMALEREMALIUNAKQNA LANTUNGUYOLOU

There was an informal meeting to study the proposedof Arms and tho Chairman opened tho sitting at 9.10a.m. with4 on tho Agenda.

Flag, Emblem and

Chief Minister prosonted tho report of tho committee set up to advise the Government on tho Flag, National Anthem, Emblem, Motto, Coat of Arms and name of country. (ANNEX 1) He said the Government had made no clear decisions on this report as it was thought better to loavo all discussion to tho Representative Assembly.country.choice being"VANUANDA" and the fourth was "MALVANUA". Ho said that tho

2.

Tho Government did study well tho namo ofTho committoc submitted four names to tho Government, tho

"NIUBRIDIS" the second choice was "VANUATU", tho thirdGovornmont studiod

thefirstwas

1

carefully these names and found something wrong with two of loft wore "NIUBRIDIS" and "VANUATU". It was found that the

thorn. Tho twoname "VANUANDA"

was an indocont word in tho Fijian languago. Tho namo "MALVANUA" was not acceptable bocouso tho word Mai in tho Fronch language meant sick, bad or rubbish. Of the two romaining names "NIUBRIDIS" was tho Bislama for New Hebrides with the letters "H" and "E" in Hebrides taken out. Tho name "VANUATU" in New Hebrides languages meant "Islands which stand, country which stand, stand correct, stand already, stands now and forever". Tha Government studiod those two names very carefully weighing everything togothor, and docided tho best name for this country would bo "THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU". Tho Govornmont proposos this name to tho Assembly but if tho Assembly decides

- 2 - RA3/PV/6

to propose any other name it will bo opon far discussion. *

3. Tha Chairman said that tho Assembly would now debate the proposals of tho committee and tho Government. The flag would bo first than tho name of the country, the Coat of Arms and tho Emblem. Of the many many entries in the flag competition received tho committee has chosen throo for the Assembly to make its choice from. All tho flags had four colours, black, green, rod and yollow and tho three chosen by the committoo wore on display on the back

wall of tho Assembly Chamber for tho mombors to see.«

4. Father LEYMANG said the third flag with four stars symbolizing thofour districts was now out of date and said in his opinion should bo discarded. The second flag with a figuro omblom in tho contro was too complicated and should also bo discarded. Of tho first flag there was only eno thing to bo discussed and that was the crossed namela loaves in tho omblom as tho namole wes nut custom in the Southern Islands. He proposed that tho first flag be accepted but the namole loaves be taken out and leavo only the pigs tusk as

the emblem.

5. Chief Minister proferrod tho first flag also but said he did not thinktho colours balanced. Ho preferred that tho yollow Y in the flag bo between black meaning thoro would bo black on either side of the yellow Y right .through tho flag. Tho black would make tho colours balance.

6. Minister NAUPA asked if Father LEYMANG mada a proposal.

7. Fathor LEYMANG said he had in mind the Ministers comments during tho informal meeting that tho namole loaves woro not symbolic of the Southern Islands but if they woro acceptable to tho Minister ho would withdraw tho proposal to take them out.

8. Minister NAUPA said ho would support Father LEYMANG to take out tho namole loaves.

9. Minister KALKOA said ho was not sure about the amblom whether it symbolished all the islands.

10. The Chairman pointed out that tho dobato was on tho flag and tho omblom would bo discussod later.

11. Minister KALSAKAU askod if tho reasons for tho colours could boexplained again. »

12. The Chairman said tho Government asked for the four colours usod.

3 RA3/PV/6

13. Minister KALPOKAS explained that black symbolised the land, green the islands, rod unity and blood of all mon and yellow for light of Christianity.

14. Chief Ministor said that black did not only symbolise land but also

custom and culture or tradition.

15. Ministor REGENVANU said that to take out tho namelo leaves would be an absence of something that played a part in a big soction of tho community of tho Now Hebrides.

16. Minister WDREK asked that a choice bo mado of tho flag and then talk about the emblem later.

17. Messrs KALKOA, NAUPA, SANDY and REGENVANU commented further on the flag with tho omblom.

10. Mr PREVOT said his choico was tho third flag with yellow strips between the green and black and between the red and black.

Tho Chairman called for a vote on tho first flag as a boso.This was accepted by 30 votes in favour and one abstention.

19. The Chairman then said that the artist should be given the flag to put in the additions that were previously suggested before any further discussion.

20. Chief Ministor agroGd and asked if tho artist could como and put in tho colours ho had suggostod.

21. Father LEYMANG a»kod if Ministor NAUPA still wanted the omblom changed. Ho said thought must bo given to what is bast for the majority and not to worry about small differences.

22. Ministor NAUPA said that he agroed with the pigs tusk staying in the emblem as a sign of light and dignity of tho chiofs and as for the namelo leaves as they represented a largo group of tho islands ho wos quite willing to agreo if Father LEYMANG wanted to withdraw his proposal.

23. Mr LOUGHMAN said that another loaf was used instoad of the namolo to show peace in tho southern islands.

24. Minister KALPOKAS askod if the emblom could bo left till after tho flag was complotod.

25. Minister NAUPA could not understand why tho omblom was incorporated with the flag.

RA3/PV/6

26. Tho Chairman oxplainod it was tho choice of tho committee.. Tho second flag had on omblom in tho middle which was □ dosign that would bo very difficult to reproduce especially for school children. The third flag had a simplo pigs tusk as tho omblom.

27. Minister NAUPA said ho proposed that tho first choice of tho committoo be adopted.

2S. The Chairman oxplainod that the Chiof Minister had alroady proposod

some alterations to this flag.

29. Pastor HOPA o9kud why tho block was so small and the two other colours largor. Ho asked could not tho black be made bigger to givo a bettor balonco

of colour,

30. Chairman said that tho artist will be callod and any questions about the colours can thon bo discussod.

31. Mr CARLOT askod if tho artist could bo called baforo they proceeded

□ny furthor.

32. Pastor HOPA said that black was a very big thing in tho lifo of tho people of this country and for that roason it should bo mado larger on tho

flag.

33. The Choirman said that the artist could bo consulted about the sizes

of tho colours.

34. Minister KALKOA said the dosign of tho flag was tho rosult of e competition and tho committoo had rocommondod this particular design. Ho did not think it right to change anything because it would not thon bo tho work of the original contestant.

35. Mr BOULEKONE supported Minister KALKOA.

36. Minister NAUPA moved that tho flag bo accepted as it is now.

37. Mr CARLOT askod aro tho flags proeontod really from th© competition without being changod by the committoo.

38. The Choirman said that it was tho basic dosign but tho committoo had added the yellow Y to break up the colours.

39. Chief Ministor said the Government knows who won tho competition and he was frightened of tho thought that the Assembly could not put changes in tho dosign. He pointed out that the Assambly still had to chooso the National Anthom and was it thought that whon tho music has boon accepted that

5 RA3/PV/6

□very word which had boon submitted must also bo accopted. Ho said that *tho Assembly must bo caroful that it doos not accopt this as a principle as it may be alright for the flag as suggested by Minister KALKOA and Hr BOULEKONE but thero could be other things that must bo changed.

Ihe Chairman adjourned tho sitting at 10.15a.m. and resumod at 10.40a.m.

40. Chief Minister proposed again that tho black bo carried through tho ccntro of tho flag and a yellow lino bo put inside the black.

41. Chief Ministor accepted the design after tho artist had put in his •suggostionB =

42. Minister NAUPA said ho still proposed tho accoptanco of tho first flag submitted by tho committoo.

43. Minister KALSAKAU 3aid ho thought that the black triangle in the original design was smaller than tho one now presented.

44. Tho Chairman confirmed this.

45. Mr CARLOT said thoro woro throe doeigns to chooso from one was the original from tho artist, tho second with the yellow linos as submitted by the committoo and tho third with tho black and yollow as proposed by the Chiof Minister. Ho asked if tho throo dosigns could bo put on tho wall for tho members to sec.

Tho Chairman askod the artist to do this and called for a vote first on tho one submitted by the committee and propo9od by Ministor NAUPA with the yellow Y only. There wae 4 in favour, 21 aQainst and 6 ab_stBntions. This flag was rejected0

*The Chairman called for a vote on tho flag with the additions proposed

by the Chief Minister with tho black continuing throuoh the contro of the flag and a yellow Y insido the black. Thoro was 22 in favour, 4 against and 5 abstentions. This design was adopted as tho flag of the Ropublic.

46. Tho Chairman thon opened debato on tho acceptance of the emblem.

47. Minister KALPOKAS said ho understood that when tho Assombly votod on the flag it also accoptod tho emblem as it was inside tho flag.

48. The Chairman accepted this.

6 RA3/PV/6

49. The Chairman then opened debate an tho Coat of Arms. Thero was only

ona entry.

50. Hr BOULEKONE said thoro was some confusion between tho Emblem and the proposed Coat of Arms.

51. The Chairman explainod that thoy wore different things. He said the Emblem had boon incorporated in the Coat of Arms.

52. Minister REGENVANU asked if tho pigs tusk in tho Coat of Arms was going to remain white or would it bo yollow as in the Emblem.

53. The Chairman said it was up to tho Assembly to docido this.

54. Chiof Minister said tho Committee's rccommandation was that thD piga tusk bo gold but it was up to the Assembly to accept or reject this.

55. Minister NAUPA moved and Mr SANDY socondod it that tho Assembly accept

tho recommendation of tho Committee.

56. Minister REGENVANU said that tho reprosontativc of the Committee statod there would bo 39 leaves to the namolo and asked if tho Assembly

accopted this.

57. Tho Chairman explained that tho artist counted tho loavos on tho namole he had usod and thoro were 39 but he did not know if all namolos wore like this. He thought it was good to adopt this number as there wore

39 members in tho Parliament.

58. Mr SANDY said he didn’t think it right to give any interpretation to the number of leavoe as tho Parliament could later grow to perhaps a

hundred mombors.

59. Minister KORISA said ho doos not think it wiso to confuse history with tho Coat of Arms.

60. Minister KALSAKAU said the number of loavos on a namolo must remain as thoy are as God has decided on the number of leaves.

61. Mr BOULEKONE said the numbor of leaves on the namelo depends on tha agG of tho tree. Ho said it is beet to loavo it to tho artist to put in a number that will give correct proportions to the design.

Tho Chairman put the Coat of Arms to the vote and it was acceptod unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

62. The Chairman then moved discussion to tho name of the country.

63. Pastor HDPA proposod that tho narno VANUAAKU should also be considered

7 RA3/PV/6

and gave a lengthy speech in support of this namo.

64. Mr BOULEKONE 3aid that VANUAAKU was considered by the Committee but rejected.

65. Chiof Minister said that tho Committee had considered VANUAAKU as the name and it was well supported but eventually rojoctcd bocauso it was tho name of a political party. They searched for a local name with a similar moaning and their choice was VANUATU and MALVANUA,

66. Minister KQRISA said tho name NIUBRIDIS was too close to New Hebrides and ho did not really favour VANUATU also as it was not a word known in tho south of the Group. Ho also said that to call a person a VANUATUAN would not bo acceptable in the South as it maans a land belonging to a white person.

67. Minister NAUPA explained that the meaning Hebrides in Scotland was native land doer to my heart and Captain Cook namod this land New Hebrides moaning a naw land dear to my heart and this is the samo meaning as Vanuaaku.

6B. Father LEYMANG askod that a selection bo made before lunch on ono of the nemos and then discuss this one name only afterwards.

69. Chiof Minister said that Niubridis soundod too much liko New Hebrides and this could bo taken as sounding too much like a now namo for British people.

Tho Chairman adjournod the sitting at 11.40a.m. and resumed at 2.10p.m. Continuing with tho debate on the name of the country.

70. Father LEYMANG movod that tho Assombly accopt the namo Niuobridis.He placed an "e" in after ’'Niu”.

71. Pastor TARITDNGA said he was not happy to use tho namo Niuobridis if it was not a name from his country.

72. Minietor KALPOKAS suggested the two names ho put to tho vote.

73. Minister WOREK said no matter how you spall Niuobridis it still sounded too much like New Hebrides. Ho supported the namo Vanuatu.

74. Minister KORISA asked how they would call tho poople of this country if cithor namo was accepted.

75. Minister SERU asked if Pastor HOPA'b proposal to call the country Vanuaaku was still to be considarod. He pointed out that ovor sixty percent of the population whon voting bcliovod the name would be Vanuaaku.

8 RA3/PU/6

76. Mr SANDY spoke in support of Vanuatu. *

77. Mr CARLOT spoko in support of Niuobridis.

78. Chief Minister said that New Hebrides was a name that had to beaccepted before because the people had no choice but ho said Ministor KORISA was right that tho people who voted for tho Vanuaaku Pati had also voted thinking that would bo tho name of tho country. He believed if tho two proposed names were put to tho people to make a choico they would choose Vanuatu. He said all the people who supported the MODERATES would not be «happy with the name Vanuaaku.

79. Mr BOULEKDNE said that if the Vanuaaku Pati wanted to name the country Vanuaaku then the party should change its name before Independence as it would not be acceptable to the people if the party carried tho namo of tho country.

SO. Tho Chairman asked tho Chief Ministor as loader of the Vanuaaku Pati if he could give an indication now if it would bo possible for the party to change its name and then tho Assembly could adopt the name Vanuaaku for tho

new Republic.

01. Chief Minister said that to to bo made by tho Congress of tho give a 3hort recess of tho sitting discuss this proposal.

02. Ministor REGENVANU proposed they wanted the name of the country changed.

03. The Chairman agreed with Minister REGENVANU.

04. Minister KALPOKAS said that by a voto on a now name the Assombly is

also voting in favour of changing the namo.

85. Father LEYMANG said that not all tho people around the Pacific had changod their name.

change the namo of the party is a decision party. Ho aekod tho Chairman if he could so that tho mombors of his party could

that the Assembly should first decide if

Tho Chairman adjourned tho sitting at 3,C5p.m.

06. Chief Minister said that Vanuaaku Pati had decided to rotain its name so that there would bo a voto for the two names Niuobridis and Vanuatu.He also explained that if Vanuatu was accepted the people of the Republic would be known as Nivanuatu tho same as it was with Vanuaaku who would havo boon known as Nivanuaaku.

9 RA3/PV/6

87. Fir CARLGT said ho was still not happy about changing ths name and he accused the Government of pushing this too faet. He wondered if there wore not some simple way of asking the people of the country if they wanted a change and if so then have e referendum to decide the name,

88. Minister NAUPA did not agree with □ referendum and said the people of the country had voted in the members of tho Assembly to take the country into independence. He movod that a vote bo taken,

89. Minister UOREK seconded the motion of Minister NAUPA.

The Chairman put firstly the name "Niucbridis". Thero was 2 votes in favour, 26 against and 11 abstentions.

Tho Chairman put ths name "Uanuatu*1. There was 26 votes in favourand 5 abstentions. The name of the Republic was accepted 39 VANUATU.

90. The Chairman then moved debate to tho National Anthem and the members heard the three finalist in tho competition.

91. Mr BOULEKONE eaid ho preferred tho committee's first choico in both music and words.

92. Ministor WOREK preferred the first choico in music but he was not really happy with tho wording.

93. Minister NAUPA said the first choice was good but tendered to wantto make you march and tho anthem should be a tunc to respect. Tho Cammittos's third choico was too heavy and liko a church hymn. The second choico would be good for Independence Day Celebrations only. His choico was between number three and number one.

94. Messrs TAHI, SANDY, HOPA, REGENUANU and VIRA commented on tho three

entries.

95. Ministor KALKOA said ho preferred tho first choice tunc but thought the lyrics could be improvod and asked if it wa9 possible to have the words

changed.

96. Chief Ministor said it appears most of the members liko tho music but are not really happy with the words and suggested that it could be loft until the following day so that members can study the words overnight and tomorrow point out each place whore they consider should bo changos.

97. Minister KALPOKAS proposed that as number two roforrod to Independence only it should be loft out and a vote taken botwoon numbers ono and throo.

10 RA3/PV/6

98. Father LEYMANG seconded tho proposal.

99. Mr BOULEKONE said ho had full rcspoct for number 3 but thought it was good in tho church but not as a National Anthem.

100. Ministor NAUPA ask what type of music did the members want for an

anthem.

The Chairman put to vote the proposal to leavo out tho second choice. There was 30 votes in favour and one abstention.

Tho Chairman put the first choice to tho voto. Thoro was 21 votes in favour, 5 against and 5 abstentions. The Chairman declared the first choico as boinq tho National Anthem for the Republic,

101. Minister KALSAKAU said ho understood that there would have to bo some alterations to tho lyrics, for instance the name of tho country will have to bo changod.

102. Chief Minister said because there will bo some slight changes it is the right of the composer to do any alterations so the anthem will go back to him for tho final touch regarding tho wording.

103. Thu Chairman then movod the debate to tho Motto.

104. Minister KALKOA commenting on tho three choices of the Committee thought that thoir first choico covcrod everything necessary for this country,

105. Mr TAHI said ho liked the first proposal but proferrod the word NAKAMAL to NASARA.

106. Hr SANDY reforrod back to Mr BOULEKONE’s proposal that if tho namo of tho country was to bo Vanuaaku then tho Vanuaaku Pati must change its namo and now there is a suggestion to use the word Nakamal instead of Nasaro ho said tho Nakamal Party should change its namo if they wanted this word in tho motto.

107. Mr BOULEKONE said ho preferred tho first choico with the word Nasarabut if tho Assembly docided to uso tho word Nakamal then ho would talk on this again lator. Ho questioned tho uso of GOD because although tha majority of tho people arc Christians thoro aro still some who will bo citizons Dftho country and who do not boliove in God. Hu just wanted to got the fooling of tho members on this point.

108. Minister KALP0KA5 said ho likod the first choice as it had tho samomoaning as tho preamble to the Constitution.

- 11 RA3/PV/6

109. There was than general discussion on tho three mottos by Ministers KALSAKAU, NAUPA and KALKOA and Mosers OBEO, BOULEKONE and CARLOT.

110. Minister KORISA said that in tho first choico tho "WAN PIPOL" end"WAN NASARA" were the same things so ho proposed that "WAN NASARA" bo changed to "WAN WOK".

111. Minister WOREK talking on the first choico omphasisod tho use of the word "WAN" saying that on Indepondonco everything should bocomo "WANWAN".

112. Tho Chief Minister said the motto should bo short, sharp and light and full of feeling. Ho proposed a motto for discussion "BELIEUE WORK ANO POWER".

113. Mr ROSLYN suggost tho word "CULTURE" instead of "NASARA".

114. Messrs SANDY and PREVOT and Ministers REGENl/ANU and KALKOA added further discussion to the pottos.

Tho Chairman said there were many suggestions from the floor on mottos and asked the mombera to considor thorn woll ovornight. Ho adjournod tho mooting at 5p.m.

Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA

ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/6Original: English

COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO DISCUSS THE NATIONAL FLAG, MOTTO,EMBLEM, COAT OF ARMS AND ANTHEM, AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTRY.

Thursday 7th February, J15\8.P

The meeting opened at 9 a.m. with a brief reminder from the

Chief Minister of the importance of the Committee’s work and a speech of welcome to its members. Mrs. Grace MOLISA then briefly explained why this Committee had been formed and clarified some of the topics the Committee was to discuss.

The 22 committee members present then elected a Chairman and

a Secretary.

Chairman: T. PATHSecretary: L. MALSUNGAI

The Committee then approved the Agenda for the proceedings.

First Item: Name of Country.A number of names had been put forward by members according to their island of origin and native language.

VANUA - VANUA NINA

- VANUAKU - NIU VANUA

- VANUA ANDA - NIU HEBRIDIS

- VANUA NA - NEW HEBRIDES

- VANUA ANA - NA VANUa

After discussing each suggested name at length, the Committ

voted to retain thre e names in order to narrow the choice! •

The voting gave the following results ••- NIU HEBRIDIS (17 votes) VANUA ANDA (8)

- NIU VANUA (14) NA VANUA (6)

- VANUA (9) VANUAAKU (4)VaNUa ANa (4)

VANUA NIU (2)

ANNEX I TO RAj/PV/6- 2 -

Some members suggested a further vote between the names VANUA (9) and VANUA ANDA (8), but this proposal was rejected.

The Committee then decided to consider the meanings and connotations of the 3 names which won the vote, i.e.

NIU HEBRIDISNIU VANUAVANUA

Members then briefly gave their reasons for suggesting each of

these names.

NIU HEBRIDIS: Is derived from ’NEW HEBRIDES’ but is written in

Bislama.It is therefore quite new and suits Government wishes,

4 P.M.: Discussions on the name of the Country were remused.Cbmmittee members asked for the Government to explain its position with respect to the name of the country. The Chairman replied that the Committee was to reach its conclusions independently and pass its recommendations on to the Government. This was the proper way for it to work.

The members then expressed their criticisms of the three names

on the short list before voting as follows to give the Committee’s

final order of preferenco: 1 - NIU VANUA (9)2 - VANUA (8)3 - NIU HEBRIDIS (5)

Since the majority of members present had not endorsed their choice, the Chairman decided on a second ballot to separate NIU VANUA (9) and VANUA (8). The result of this vote was: NIU VANUA (14)

VANUA (8)

After interminable discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each name, the Committee decided thqt final approval or rejection of the short listed names should be left up to the Council of Ministers and the Representative Assembly.

Next point on the Agenda: MottoMembers were unanimous in the view that the language to be used

for the motto should be Bislama

- 5 - ANNEX I TO RAj/PV/6

Several mottos proposed by entrants in the previous years competition arranged by the Ministry of Trade and Industry were

introduced as examples and food for thought. Specimens of various countries Coa of Arms were also distributed to the Committee members.

The Committee decided to select some key words to be used as a basis for the motto: - Justice - Liberty

- Work - Equality- Unity - Prosperity- Peace

The Committee decided it should find a fundamental key word to

express the basic realities of the country in the motto. One committee

member interjected however, that the objects to appear on the flag would first have to be chosen and their meaning appreciated before the key word could be chosen.

The Committee decided therefore to split into three groups:Group 1 : Anthem Group 2 : MottoGroup 3 ! Flag, Emblem and Coat of Arms

Possible flag designs were then shown to the Committee to give members an idea of what a flag should represent. A number of anthems

were also played to give members a first impression of these.

The meeting was adjourned at 5*15 p.m.

Friday 8th February, 1980

The meeting resumed at 9 a.m. as decided the previous day, the Committee divided up into three group. Each group selected three specimens from the specimens it had been given (whether of flag, anthem, motto or emblem) which it would lay before the Committee for discussion and voting on an order of preference.

Please find attached the proposed names, anthems, mottos and

emblems.

2.50 P.M.: Resumption of proceeding:Each group put forward its respective proposals.The question of whether the emblem should include a cross

.........../............

„ 4 -

was raised. As no clear common attitude emerged the Committee decide to vote for or against.A majority was against including a cross on the emblem. The Secretary of the Committee pointed out that the group had put forward a single flag only whereas their brief was to propose three. The group was asked to choose two other possible flag designs to widen the Government’s field of choice. The Committee went on to express its criticisms and views on each flag and voted them into the following order of preference: - 1 - Malon KALONTAS’ design

2 - Rick FRASER’s design3 - George KALSAKAU*s design

Monday 11 th February, 1980

The meeting opened at 8.30 a.m. with discussion of the National

Anthem.The group concerned explained its reasons for the choice of the

three anthems which it had classified in order of preference. The Committee then listened to each anthem several times and each member gave his or her reservations and point of view. A vote was then

taken on the order of preference. Unanimous approval of the following

order was given:1 - Francois VINCENT

2 - FATUANA3 - P.M.C.

The Committee then turned its attention to selecting an emblemand a coat of arms, but very few designs had been proposed.Two designs, submitted by Rick FRASER were therefore adopted for

Discussions then turned to the proposals originating from the

Motto group, which were voted on with the following results.1 - Wan God, wan pipol, wan nasara2 - Evriwan blong wan farrea3 — Wok blong leftemap kantri

The Chairman then decided to adjourn proceedings and close the

meeting.

- 5 -

Tuesday 12th February, 1980

8 A.II. The Chairman decided to open discussions once again on the question of the name of the country.

The Committee members had decided that further debate was required on this subject and wished to review the choices they had made.

5 names were chosen from a list of new names put before the

Committee.1 - NIU HEBRIDIS2 - VANUANDA3 - VANUATU

3 - VANUANDA

The ensuing vote to establish an order of preference had the

following result: 1 - NIU EBRIDIS2 VANUATU

As there was some objection amongst members to the name VANUATU, those against this name suggested that an alternative be put forward by chiefs Bongmatur, Kalsakau and Tipoloamata. After much talk they proposed ’MALVANUA1.

The voting was as follows: 1) NIUEBRIDIS

2) VANUATU

3) VaNUANDA4) MALVANUA

There being no other business or comments the meeting was closed*

N»B.: The 5 groups were composed as follows

NATIONAL ANTHEM 2. FLAG EMBLEM 3. MOTTO

Francois Vincent Michoutouchkine Pastor Navuki

Iarawo i Wrestle Pilioko Jack Kalotiti

Pastor Vari Tom Tipoloamata Thadde Atingting

Father Finley Sam Ngele Graham Kalsakau

James Adin Titus Path

John Stevens W. Bongmatur

Chairman Secretary

ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/6

Motto: -proposals f r ojn_ the members of the sub-committee

1. Wan Nation, wan Pipol, wan God2. Uniti blong love mo servim kantri3. Humanity, Unity, Equality4. Liberty, Equality, mo Friendship5. Unity, Justice, Work6. Freedom, Peace, Liberty7- Two (2) wings, wan fly8. Unity, Build, Serem9. Unity, Respect differences10. Confident long another11. Plante man, wan nakamal"12. Yumi plante be yumi wan13. Yumi plante yumi mas wan11*-. (fed.weteni yumi15. Brata mo sista blong wan nakamal16. Peace, Unity, Equality17. Wok wan pies, Buildimap kantri

4 proposals of the sub-committee

1. Righteousness exalts the Nation

a) stret fasen blong liftimap kantrib) stret fasen i save liftimap kantric) stret fasen i liftimap kantrid) stret fasen i liftimap pipol

2. Wan Nation, wan pipol, wan God3. Plante man won (Nakamal)

Wok wan pies, Buildimap kantri

3 proposals of the committee

1. Wan god wan pipol wan nasara2. Evriwan blong wan Farrea3. Wok blong leftemap kantri

fetional Apt hemsNational Anthem No.4 (Francois Vincent)

Yumi, Yumi, Yumi i glat blong talem seYumi, Yumi, Yumi i man blong Vanuatu

1. God i givim pics ia long yumi 2. Yumi glat tumas long hemYumi strong mo yumi fri long hem Yumi brata everiwan.

Plante fasin blong bifo i stapPlante fasin blong tedoiBe yumi i olsem wan nomoHernia fasin blong yumi.

3. Yumi save plante wok i stap Long ol aelan blong yumi God i helpem yumi evriman Hemi papa blong yumi.


National Anthem No«2 (Fatuana)

Wan histri dei blong yumi man VanuatuI kam fri man long Independens deiPipol i saot mo flag i flae antap long evri taon tedei God blessem kantri ia.

0 lavli kantri blong yumi ia I fulap gud long difren pies 01 difren lanwis, ol difren kastom Yumi mas prea long papa God nao Blong lidim ol fiuja lidaFrom hapi kantri mo pisful kantri Yumi mas liv long uniti*

National Anthem No. 3 (P.M.C. Choir)

1. Vanuatu wan kantri 2.Lord God yu blessem hem Aneityum kasem Torres Yumi stanap praod tedei Flag i flae antap long yumi I soem yumi wanYumi singsing mo wok tugetaLong ol Vanuatu

Givim waes long olgeta lida Mo paoa blong soem rodBlong lidim yumi friman Long stret fasin we i truMekem kantri i kam antapLong hapi wei mo pisYumi sing mo wok tugetaLong ol Vanuatu

Name of the Country

Proposals of the Committee - VANUAKU - NIU VANUAVANUA - NIU HEBRIDISVANUA ANDA - NEW HEBRIDESVANUA NA - NA VnNUkVANUA ANAVANUA NINAOUJA - VaNUA NIU

Result after first vote1«2. -3. -

NIU HEBRIDISNIU VANUAVANUA

Seoond proposals of the Committee:

- VANUATU - VANUANDA V/xNUATnPU - MALOWIA

- VANUnTURU - MENTOLON- VANUaTUTnNO - VANUA OTEA- NIUEBRIDES

Result, after new vote: NIUEBRIDISVANUANDA

CHIEFS: Bongmatur, Tipoloamata, Kalsakau

Propose: Malvanua1.

Final proposals of the Committee: 2.3.

NIUEBRIDISVANUANDAMaLVaNUA


RA3/PV/7Originals English


Tuesday, 19 February, 1980

Chairman Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA

Prosent 31 MBmborsAbsent Messrs G. CRONSTEADT

H. KARAERUA. MALEREA. MALIUC. NAKOW. NA LANT. TUNGUA. YOLOU

1. Tho Chairman oponod tho sitting at 8.30a.m. calling for further

discussion on tho motto.

2. Minister SERU said ho would like to confine the motto to three points - FREEDOM, WORK and UNITY and gave hie explanation of tho90 three points.

3. Minister NAUPA suggested “TO TOIL IS TO REAP”.

4. Mr TARITONGA and tho Chairman commented on the points raised by tho two Ministers.

5. Chiof Minister gave his personal views that the motto must have God inside. Ho said without God there is no powor and nothing as a standby.He said Minister SERU’s suggestion was good but it should havo God first as without God thoro is no froodom.

So Mr SANDY and Minister REGENVANU further discussed this point.

7o Ministor KORISA proposed a motto that complimented the now name oftho country "LONG GOD YUMI STANAP".

8. Minister SERU agreed with Chief Minister that God should bo put inside and amended his proposal to "LONG GOD FREEDOM SERVICE UNITY".

9. Minister KALSAKAU supported Minister SERU’s proposal.

10. Minister WOREK said there had boon talk and suggestions on poaco, justice, unity and froodom and God is in evoryono of these but without God there cannot be poace, justico, unity or froodom and ho said Minister KORISA*s proposal covorod all this. He suggostod Minister KORISA’a proposal.

2 RA3/PV/7

11. Nr BOULEKONE commented on all proposals and said ho supported Minister KORISA’s one as it covered everything. Ho moved that a vote bo taken on tho motto ’’LONG GOD YU MI STANAP".

12. Minister NAUPA socondod the motion.

The Chairman put to tho vote first "LONG GOD FREEDOM SERVICEUNITY1*. Thore was 5 votes in favour^ 20 against and 6 abstontions.This motto iwas rejected 4

13. Mr CARLDT thought the motto of Minister' KORISA was unconstitutional.

14. Ministor KALKOA and KALSAKAU commented on Mr CARLOT’ s talk and

agreed that God should be takon out.

15. Ministor KALPOKAS said ho thought it out of order to discuss

this motto further. Ho said a vote had boon taken on one and

should now be takon on the other.

16. Chief Minister said that all pooplo woro not perfect that thoy haddifferent beliefs but the God in tho motto covered all people

whatever their beliefs er croeds.

The Chairman put to th_e_ vote ’’LONG GOD YUHI STANAP”. Thoro was22 votosin favour- 5 aoainst and 4 abstentions. The Chairman declared this to be the motto for the Republic.

17. The Chairmen moved to Item 5 on the Agenda Motion No.1 to ,ioin the Commonwealth CANNEX 1).

18. Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister explained tho roason for joining emphasising mainly tho aid that would ba available and the opportunity of onjoying tho benefits of tho European CommonMarket by being members □ f both thu A.C.C.T. and the Commonwealth

19. Minister NAUPA asked to take a vote now.

20. Ministor REGENVANU and Mr SANDY thorn discussed and askodquestions on this subject.

21 „ Chief Minister explained that tho Queen was not the Hoad of Stoto of all tho Commonwealth countries and would not ba the Hoad of State of the Ropublic of Vanuatu.

22. Ministor KALKOA gave further explanations and govo oxamplos of members of tho Commonwealth who wore independent of tho Queen.

3 RA3/PV/7

23. Minister UOREK gave an example dP aid given in 1977 by the

Commonwealth to the New Hebrides.

24...but ho said wo have the

Mr ANDENG said ho socs many stamps and currancy notes of members of

tho Commonwealth with tho Queen’s hoad on them

pigs tusk a symbol arc thoro

and namulo loovo as our symbol and said if tho

acceptable pigs tusk independence-

of this country. Hojust to help us andas wo must bo truly

on tho flag as ourand namolo loaf

25. Mr BOULEKONE sold ho

not tio us

wo must rospoct thorn asA.C.C.T. and Commonwealththen that would

indopondont and

was concerned that

bomust rospoct symbol of

tho Gouernmont

tho

hod

in more dotail so that members and thonot explained the poopla of the country of becoming members of those two Associations especially tho Commonwealth. He said ho understood wall the presentation mado by tho Government

proposalcould understand fully the need and tho consoquonces

concerning the A.C.C.T. but as for the Commonwealth ho claimed thorowere differences batwoon thu document presented and what tho Gouernmont has verbally reported. Ho has triod to find the moaning of the Commonwealth from the documents which hovo boon submitted end has referred to tho Protocol and some English books rocontly published. Ho said ho finds that tho presentation made by tho Government is in fact tho opposite of what those documents hovo said. He said every detail must be considered because ho was also concerned how, by joining the Commonwealth it would affect the lives of tho people and tho Constitution. Ho said the New Hebrides was never a British colony or territory it is a Condominium and quite difforont from Fijif Solomons and Papua Now Guinea. It was not in tho same situation either ns Now Caledonia, Wallis or French Polynesia. Tha Protocol states that tho Now Hobridos is a zone ofjoint influonco only. Ho said tho Commonwealth was born after the Amorican war of Indopondonco in 1776 and is an association of all tho territories which in ono way or ancthor wore undur thu influence of Groat Britain. Some of those countries are now indopondont but before wore under thu power of England or Australia where the Hoad of Stato was always tho Queen and thoy scorn to bo automatically members of tho Commonwealth. He said that tho Now Hebrides was compelutely difforont from those territories and the poople of thu New Hebrides nouer became British or Frenchcitizens. Joining the Commonwealth could affect tho life of the

4 RA3/PV/7

New Hebrides from the social, economic and religious point of view. It is true, he said, that Queen Elizabeth was not the Head of State of all the Commonwealth countries but he was sure the people of the New Hobridee knew that of all the Commonwealth countries including the small Pacific Islands, Queen Elizabeth is the head. There was □ difference between Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth countries. Ho worned the Government not to go too quick. He said tho Vanuaaku Pati when compaigning for the oloctions nover said the country would become a member of the Commonwealth but would become an independent Melanesian country and because of this he was pleased when thoy won the election but if it now becomes a membor of the Commonwealth ho will join tho people to oppose the Governmont. Ho asked tho Government to withdraw tho motion and leave it to the people to decide by referendum.

26. Minister KALKOA was surprised to hoar what Mr BOULEKONE had to say regarding tho Commonwealth. He had not pointed out any complete reasons for opposing tho Commonwealth. He said that the Governmont of Father LEYMANG had startod consideration of joining the A.C.C.T. and Commonwealth.

He was sure that this now was a political move. Some people were trying to soy that the Government of Wolter LINI wanted to soil the country to England and this would not make the country truly independent. He pointed out again that England is not tho Hoad of the Commonwealth but was there to offer aid where needed. Ho said the Commonwealth was established to maintain friendly relations between countries. The President of the Republic will bo the Head of State not Queen Elizabeth. He said if the motion was opposod then those opposing it should givo details of their roasona to the pooplo of the country and explain why you accepted A.C.C.T membership and not Commonwealth membership, Ho wantod constructive criticism not distractive criticism and insult* in tho Assembly. Ho said he was tired of hearing what Britain and Franco has or had not done in this country and what ho wanted to hear now is what we aro going to do and we should make sure wo establish friendly relationships especially with our Pacific neighbours. He said he waB not prepared to withdraw tho motion.

The Chairman adjourned the sitting at 10.15a.m, and resumed at 10.44a.m, continuing with Itom 5 on tho Agenda Motion No,1.

- 5 - RA3/PV/7

27. Minister KALKOA gavo examples of countries in the Commonwealth where the Queen is not Hoad of State. He said it was never intended that tho Queen would be Head of State of the New Hebrides and when our Foreign Affairs Ministry is established we will establish friendly relation with all countries. He suggested that the Chairman ask Hr Stuart to como and answer Opposition questions or the British Government prepare a document

giving full explanations.

28. Minister KALSAKAU supporting Minister KALKOA said there are many countrios in tho Commonwealth that are independent, Ha gave India as an example as being tho same as the New Hebrides will bo. It has a Prosidont who is an Indian and has a Prime Minister also. He could not understand the Opposition’s fears. He said the problems woro caused by the previous two Governments which followed one lino which wont on the French side only. Ho said Mr BOULEKONE appears to fear international politics which is not a real fear cf the people of the New Hebrides but of the French Government. Ho said all we want is a balance with the English speaking countries and the French speaking countries. Ho said that tho Government did not wont to go against tho French Government nor of tho French Government policy in New Caledonia. He said tho Commonwealth was like a club whore the Primo Ministers moot to discuss their common problems but the internal probloms romain in tho hands of tho countries. Ho said the New Hebrides would gain a lot of technical advice and aid from the Commonwealth and it would bo to our advantage to join.

29. Mr CARLDT askod what does tho Government wants. Ho said that weneed co-operation, a club to join to obtain help and tho A.C.C.T. is such a body. Ho said tho A.C.C.T. is an agency and complotoly different from tho Commonwealth. Thu Commonwealth ho said is a body with agencies inside it but the title of the item on the Agenda is momborship of tho Commonwealth and it must bo defined clearly what will bo the conditions of the NowHebrides to join as a nation. He said the document docs not explain thaso conditions and it is the duty of tho Government to explain those tc tho people. He is vory worried and cannot got a satisfactory answer. He believes that any decisions made will affoct all the people of this country. He said on Independence there are plenty of French and British agencies to join but if wo become a member of tho Commonwealth wo havo to recognise that the Queen is the Hoad of Commonwealth and that is a rule. If thoGovernment says no tc this then they are docaiving the peoplo. He said he is

6 RA3/PV/7

vory proud of his country and he thought it better to wait for Independence to decide what international bodies to join. Hq doos not want his country to be inferior to any other country and as a member of A.C.C.T. wo are on an oqual footing with all other members. If we join ths Commonwealth now we will nover become a leading nation in the Pacific.

30. Chief Minister thanked Messrs BOULEKONE and CARLOT for their speechos

which the people of the country have been listoning to. They hove explained thoir pointe clsarly and wg now understand thoir position but he must point out that it is most important that the Government doos not wait any longer, If soma day the Moderate Parties make a Government and they estimate it is not corroct for this country to bo a member of tho Commonwealth they can toko a voto and inform all tho pooplo of tho Nou Hebrides. Tho Uanuaaku Pati before it won the elections decided in Congross that whon they bocame Government they would join both the A.C.C.T. and Commonwealth. The Moderato Parties if they win tho next olection have tho domocratic right to repeal tho decisions to join tho A.C.C.T. and Commonwealth if they wish. Ho said he was vary sad to hear whatMr BOULEKONE had to say and it confirms what ho has said before that it is very clear to tho whole population from Anoityum to the Torres that some who aro sitting in the Assembly arc directly involvod with advising the troublemakers of Santo and Tanna. From Mr BOULEKONE's speech this morning he thinks that tho pooplo outside the Assembly interpret that whatMr BOULEKONE has said with Mr CARLOT and Fcthor LEYMANG they aro involvod. Ho has had many storios from people outside tho Assembly of Mr BDULEKONE going hero and Father LEYMANG going thcro to moot with all the pooplo and this is very suspicious. He said it is sad bocauso tho unity that Father LEYMANG advocated sooms to have boon broken by him and Messrs CARLOT and BOULEKONE. Ho said tho French Government is now happy to haveMossrs BOULEKONE, CARLOT and Father LEYMANG alongside with all the francophone and Moderate parties and they are ne longer free as they were before. The rights and powor of his Government are being threatened by the Moderate Partios that if tho Govornmont doos something they don’t like they will cause trouble again in Santo and Tanna, The Govornmont views vory suspiciously tho reason for Mr ROBERT going to Tanna when everything is quiet and when ho goos to Santo everything is quiet. He said it looks like he pulls the strings of the planning from beginning to end. He said his Government wants to work with the French and British Governments

7 RA3/PV/7

For independence and there are two ways to prepare for co-operation after independence, one is to join the A.C.C.T. and the other to join tho Commonwealth. His Government is not prepared to delay further the progress and program for independence. His Governmont believes that if we don't join the Commonwealth aid will not continue to be received after independence and if we don’t join tho A.C.C.T. then tho relationship with France would be tho same as it is now os thoy would have to go through tho French GovGrnmont for aid and would therefore no longor bo independent. He said the Government must tako a docision now and moved that a vote be takon.

31. Mr BOULEKONE said ho gives full respect to tho Chief Ministor as Hoad of the Now Hebrides Government but he did not want tho Chiof Minister to treat him in a way that he had never treated tho Chiof Minister. Ho said ho spoke on tho motion before tho House and he referred to one political point only and that thousands of people in the New Hebrides were his witness. Ho said ho had pointed out before that if tho Now Hebrides joined the Commonwealth it would affect tho social side, tho economic side and ovon the religious 3ido. He wanted any big docision such a3 this roferred to the people of the Now Hebrides by referendum. Ho said he hod reforrod to the political problems in Santo and Tanna but ho doos not follow those people, he blames all tho political loaders who aro taking political action today in Santo and Tanna. He said ho had received letters from some islands saying they do not want the Government to go into the Commonwealth. He said if he doos not like something the Government is doing he has the democratic right to come into tho Assembly and toll thorn so. The Government must expect the Opposition to react in a democratic

way respecting the law and the Constitution. He was surprised that ths Chief Minister had talked against him twice now and has talked against him and hi* two colleagues for the communique they had put to the people of the New Hebrides, blaming them of being terrorists. He said he was not happy with tho way the Federal Party President says that tho Uanuaaku Pati is a terrorist organisation and the President of the Vanuaaku Poti says the Federal Party is a terrorist organisation* Ha said if ho is not ablo to come to tho Assembly he would tako some action outside of it but he does not want to do this sort of thing. He said there were many suspicions about him but these must be proved. Ho said it was he who stopped tho people from fighting in front of Fung Kuoi House on 29th Novembor (1977). Ho has tho same rights in the Assombly as the Chiof Minister because thoy are both

RA3/PV/7- 0 -

deputies. He wanted the Government to withdrew thia motion to join the Commonwealth and refer it to tho people of the Now Hebrides.

32. Ministor REGENVANU aaid you could push a man in different waya, one was by talking to him bluntly and another by incitamont. AlthoughMr BOULEKONE haa not incited people to fight he has influenced people in a certain way. Listening to Mr BOULEKONE's first talk he appeared to ba defending tho French interests not the people of the New Hebrides end Df his talk this morning there was nothing of custom or custom people. He said that once we have accepted the principle of joining the Commonwealth then wc will examine all the conditions in detail, He said ho was afraid of joining in organisation through thoir agencies and joining tho Commonwealth as an Association was better thon the way they had decided to Join the A.C.C.T. but now having decided to join the A.C.C.T. they must mako up their minds to join the Commonwealth also.

33. Ministor NAUPA said ho wae surprised with Mr BOULEKONE's spooch and wondered how ho got a lottor from Ambrym yosterday. Ho moved again that a vote be takon.

34. Father LEYMANG askod tho Chairman to dolay the voto. Ha askod the Government to submit a paper to tho Assembly explaining the oonditions which will govern the joining of tha Commonwealth. He thought that in the English system there would be agencies that are equal to the A.C.C.T.

35. Minister SERU said that there had boon enough oxplanations given thia morning. Ho blamed tho Moderates for using delaying tactics sc as to involve tho poople in political thinking that is causing the trouble in Santo and Tanna. He said there is no time to wait,

36. Mr CARLOT said there was a democratic way for the Parliament to work and if a vote is taken now tha apposition would ba daniod the chanco of constructive discussion. Ho referred to tho Chief Ministor1s speech whero he said that after the next elections if tho Modoratas won thon they could change this decision and did ho moan by this that the Opposition should not como to tho Assembly hut stay outsido and lot the Government do whatover thoy wanted. He said that because of tho Government's two-thirds majority tho motion will no doubt bo passod but thoy have the right to talk as representatives of tho Opposition. Ho askod the Government for a decisive answer to the quostion doos tho Opposition have the right to speak in the Assombly or are they to stay outside.

9 RA3/PV/7

37. Chief Minister thonksd Messrs CARLOT and BOULEKONE for their constructive) criticism of his reply to their communique and what he had said today. He referred to the motion under discussion and said Mr CARLOT had mentioned that with a two-thirds majority the vote will bo carried.He said that maybe the Government was wrong but if a vote is taken and it is carried than it will have to bo accepted and that is his understanding of the democratic principles. He said he does not know what interpretation Mr CARLOT gives to his words but he hoa every right to criticiso tho Government and his criticisms ore accepted. Ho soid he does not want to say that tho Government will shut up the Opposition.

38. Minister KALSAKAU said he did not think that Standing Orders had bean applied because this motion had been under discussion for a long time. Ho said ho understood now what is the problem regarding those two documents. Tho first document about joining the A.C.C.T. and the other ubout the Commonwealth are two different things. What is nocessary, he said, is that we must have another papor so that the Government can join other agencies not covored by the first document. Ho thought that in the French Government there were a number of othor agencies which could bo joined. The Commonwealth was a wido Association with a lot of agencios inside it but the A.C.C.T. is just a narrow association.

39. Minister KALPOKAS supportod Minister KALSAKAU and said the fear of joining the Commonwealth was not real. Ho explained that all countries in the Commonwealth wore froo and gava os an example that England had a State Church which was tho Church of England but othor countries of tho Commonwealth did not have State Churchos. Ho did not consider it necessary to put the question to a referendum as the pooplG had already shown by their vote that they had confidence in the elected Government.

40. Minister KALKOA said that tho Opposition criticism on this motion should be accepted as constructive.

41. Mr PREVOT said that ono point on tho document says it is up to the Secretariat to put into practise collective decisions and he wanted to know the meaning of this. Ho also supported Father LEYMANG’s request.

The Chairman adjourned the sitting at 11.4fla.m. and resumed at 2.12p.m. continuing with discussion on thB Commonwealth and he advisod the House that ho had invited the British Resident Commissioner to attend to

answer questions.

10 RA3/PV/7

42. Father LEYMANG complained that speeches by ths French Resident Commissioner and Opposition members in tho House had been cut off on the radio. He also asked if the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister agreed with his proposal of tho morning.

43. The Chairman thanked Father LEYMANG for drawing his attontion to the speeches being cut on Radio Now Hobrides and said it was a matter for the Director of Radio New Hebrides to ensure that all tho proceedings of the

Assembly wore broadcast.

44. Chief Minister said ho had reports of tho radio outs on Governmontj Opposition and Resident Commissioners speeches and 9tatod it had nothing to do with Govornment policy as tho Government was anxious that all the pooplo of the Now Hebrides hoard all tho Parliamentary proceedings. Ho also told Father LEYMANG that his Ministry had searched tho filos for further details of tho Commonwealth from tho time negotiation woro first atartod during Fathor LEYMANG's Govornment but all that could bo found was a small booklot which gave the Declarations of Commonwealth Principles and if members wished it would be typed and translated and issued to tho mombors,

45. Tho Chairman thankod the Chief Minister and askod if his Ministry would prepare tho papor ho spoko about. Ho then thankod the British Resident Commissioner for coming and gave him the floor.

46. Mr STUART, British Resident Commissioner suggested it would bo bottor for him to answor questions os ho was not quits suro of tho problems which were troubling tho members of tho Assumbly. Ho would however say two things about the Commonwealth, ono is tho nature of tho Commonwealth and tho decision which is taken by some countries to join and tho othor is about tho negotiations and discussions which havo alroody takon place in the Now Hebrides about joining tho Commonwealth and at tho 3amo time joining tho Francophone Community. Ho said on tho question of joining tho CommonwealthI don't blamo you if you aro a bit confused bocaueo tho Commonwoalth is a vory confusing organisation which has grown up in many ways and dovalopod in many ways from its origin. It is not a British Commonwoalth, it is just called tho Commonwoalth. Tho Queen is not the boss of the Commonwoalth countries and sho has a nominal title, that i9 to soy sho has no power as Head of Commonwoalth, this was created because whon India and other countries like for example Tanzania became independent they did not want to romain under tho Quoon, thoy wantod to bo fully indopondont and to havo a Republic with thoir own President so that nobody in the world was ovor that

11 RA3/PV/7

Prosidont and thorofore thoy wanted a now farm of organisation that rotainod thoir full indopondonco but allowed them to associate with other countries in this thing thoy callod the Commonwealth, The Commonwealth doos not ovon have to be countries that they have formerly been associated with Britain and in theory is open to, and in practise in fact, anybody to join. Tho nature of the Commonwealth is in one sonso political and in the other sense is mostly economic and development. The political part of thG Commonwealth is perhaps tho annuel mooting of the Commonwealth Hoads of Government whoro the Hoads of full members of tho Commonwoalth join togothor end talk about tha affairs of tho world in the sort of a mini United Nations. The last such mooting was in LUSAKA and thoro was a lot of discussion thero about tho, for example, British problems. Thoro havo boon other important mootings in London, Singapore end different parts of tho world. Tho othor part of the Commonwealth is tho technical side which providos services to the Commonwealth countries and also provides technical co-oporation. The services of co-oporatinn oro organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat which is not, repoat not, under tho British Government. The Socratary-Gonoral of tha Commonwealth is Hr RAflPHAS who comos from Guiana and tho Commonwealth Secretariat provides all sorts of services ranging from advico and help in things like commodities, education, information, finance, logal mattors, health, scionce and technology, trado and finance, and youth activities, all theso ore at the requost from member Governments. Thera are twe forms of membership of tho Commonwealth and it is entirely up to a country which wants to join to docido which form of momborship it may havo. Thoro is a full membership and there is a special membership. Full momborship moans that a country joins fully and pays monoy towards the oxponsos of tho Secretariat and also participates in the political part of tho Commonwealth which is tho Commonwealth Hoads of Government meetings. Spocial momborship is a momborship which moans that tho mombor can havo the full advantages of tho technical sorvico6 of tho Commonwealth Secretariat but it doos not take part in tho Hoads of Government mootings in political discussions and it does not have to contribute money to tho oxponsos of tha Socrotoriat. At the momont tho spocial mombors of tho Commonwealth aro TUVALU and NAURU, tho othore havo choson to be full mombors but it is entirely up to tho country concerned first of all to decide whether to join tho Commonwealth. There aro samo countrias like Burma and Pakistan that used to be British but havo docided not to join the Commonwealth and it is their own choice. If □ country docidos to join the Commonwealth than it is up to that country to

- 12 - RA3/PV/7

decide whether to be a full mombor or a special member. The advantages of being a special mombor are that it is cheaper, you don't have actually to spend any money at all as a subscription to the Socrotariat and you got the full benefits of the technical side but you do not participate in the political side in the Head of Governmant mooting. So if the New . Hebrides decides to join tho Commonwealth one of the things you also need to docido is whother to bo a full membor or a speciol mombor. Tho question of joining the Commonwealth was first raised by tho thon Chiof Ministor, Fathor LEYMANG, with Sir Michaol Palliser when he visited hGro in March 1979. At the timo the Government of National Unity said that they wantod in principle to join both the Commonwealth and the Francophone Community, the nearest equivalent being the A.C.C.T, When Sir Michael went back to London ho wrote to Father LEYMANG and sont him tho details of what joining tho Commonwealth meant and what had to be dono in order to join. So this is not a now question, it is a question that was discussod by the G.N.ll, and is now boing discussod by this Assembly and is entirely up to the Assembly to docido. The Commonwealth is not a collection of countries whoro tho Queen is tho boss. Thore are some countries that have choBcn to stay as what are called Kingdoms under the Quoon and thoso countries aro mostly what ore collod tho old Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia and Now Zealand but thore arc soma other countries which have chosan it too like Fiji and Solomons. Most countries have decided thoy do not want to bo under the Quoon, they want to be fully independent republics and thoy have no obligations or duties to tho Quosn nor the British at all. They aro fully indopendent countries who have chosen to associate togethor in the Commonwealth.

47. The Chairman then invited members to quostion the British Rosidont Commissioners,

48. Mr BOULEKDNE askod is tho condition for admission to the Commonwealth absolutely necessary on tho financial aid and tachniquo of Groat Britain.

49. Mr STUART ropliod no. Britain givoa aid to a lot of countrio9 Commonwoalth and non-Commonwoalth. Tho only thing that bears on aid is that Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-oporation (C.F.T.C.) which is not a British fund, it is technical co-operation to Commonwealth countries but as far as Great Britain is concerned sho doos not put any conditions to hor aid.

13 RA3/PV/7

50. Father LEYMANG asked if there wore any agencies on the same level at A.C.C.T, Is there not e way that the New Hobridea could be a part of an English apeaking agency such aa A.C.C.T, la there a way cf going direct into auch an agency or muet the country go into the Commonwealth.

51. Mr STUART replied that this had been discussed with Father LEYMANG last year when he was Chief Minister. The answer is no, there is no direct equivalent to the A.C.C.T. in the Commonwealth and there is no equivalent of the Commonwealth in the A.C.C.T. Tho A.C.C.T. is very largely a cultural organisation ond it would be true that tho Francophone Community is much more on the side of culture. The Anglophone countries a»e very different. It is very difficult to think Df a cultural community taking inside such countries as Tanzania with Fiji with Great Britain and Australia. There is c great mixture of culture in the Commonwealth.

52. Father LEYMANG asked would you havo to automatically bo a member of the Commonwealth to bonofit from tho Commonwoalth funds.

53. Mr STUART ropliod yes. To obtain aid from C.F.T.C, you must join asa special or full member af the Commonwoalth. The question soomod to implythat tho Commonwoalth is a prison which is not so. It is the most extraordinary thing in the world, it is a free association which people are freeto join or leave. If they find it useful they join, if they ceaso to findit useful thoy locvo.

54. Mr BOULEKONE said that wo are informod that sometime* '■•hero is a top Bummit conference of tho members ef tho Commonwealth*How aro tho different mombors considorad at those conferences, arc thoy considered on equal basis, thoir intervention can cover all points, aro tho mombor countries who havo tho Quoon os Hoad of Stato and momber countrios where sho is not Head of Stato on different dugroos or are thoy on the samo level, and muet all tho Commonwealth countries respect any decisions mada at thoso montingB?

55. Mr STUART answered Mr BOULEKONE s-1) Every country is on tho same footing. Tho President of the

Commonwealth Hoads of Government meeting is tho Head of tho country of the country whoro the mooting is held. For example the last Heads of Government meeting was in Lusaka, Zambia, the President of the meeting was President KAUNDA of Zambia. Zambia is not under tho Queon, it is an

14 RA3/PV/7

independent republic and there iB no distinction whatever within tho Commonwealth between countries that are still Kingdoms and those that □re Republics- In fact the Kingdoms are very strongly out numbered □a there ere many moro Republics in the Commonwealth than there are Kingdoms. All countries in tho Commonwealth are oqunl.

2) If you want to be a spacial member in the Commonwealth it means you don't pay anything to tho Secretariat and you don't go into the meetings for Hoads of Government- You use the technical side of the Commonwealth and do not participate in tho political sido. Any member country hes the right to change from ono momborship to the other,

3) Tho Commonwealth is not a Parliament. It does not control each individual member. It is a piece for meetings and discussion with friends, like a Nakamal. Pinny times the Heads of Statos have criticised the British Government and they have tho right to do this. The Hoads of Government discuss tho Rhodesia problem and the Commonwealth forum is tho best place to solve this problem.

56. I*lr BOULEKONE asked is there not a big basic, nut superficial but basic, difference between the A.C.C.T. and the Commonwealth. Wasn't it considered that thoy had tho right to ask for moro oxplanation. Tho pooplo of theNow Hebrides have the right to consider vory carefully before joining an international organisation with such big countries inside such as Canada, Australia, Naw Zoaland and Great Britain who hevo world wide interests. Reference is always made to Queon Elizabeth in the Commonwealth but in tho A.C.C.T. thore is novor a roforonco to Giscard D'EBtaigne, the Prosidont of Senegal or Quebec, or Ivory Coast. Tho pooplo of tho Now Hebrides should decide whothor thoy wanted to join or not.

57. Mr STUART said he was dismoyod at thn way that this discussion has boon going. Tho idoa of tho Now Hobridss joining bath a grouping of Anglophone states and Francophone states is not now. It was discussed with the Govornmont of National Unity with Father LEYMANG as Chiaf Minister. It was pointed out to Father LEYMANG that there woro many difforoncos, but there must be many differences between the wayB that different countries and difforont groups operate. Ho was very sad that discussions now suggest that there is something wrong with joining anglophone and francophone communities. This country needs unity and it needs it from both sides. It needs a consonsus of opinion from all sensible Now Hebridean people. If questions

15 RA3/PV/7

of whether somethings are francophone or anglophone and not just what is good for oil the Now Hebrides then this country will face a very serious future.

58. Minister KALKOA said that Mr BOULEKONE'b first question was a political one and he did not think Mr STUART should answer it. Secondly he said that Mr STUART had answered Father LEYMANG correctly that negotiations to join the Commonwealth had commenced during Father LEYMANG's Government and thi present Government was just concluding what had already been started. If thia discussion continues the Assembly doss not know where it stands. He said the right of the people had been given to their elected members ond it is up to the Assembly to make a decision. Ho said that if it was to ba put to the people the Govornmont of National Unity should have done that when they commenced negotiations but now it is up to the Assembly to mako a dscieion.

59. Mr CARLOT said ho s was ploasod with Mr STUART’s explanations. He said that in the morning nothing was clear by tho documents but now he knew there wore two ways of joining the Commonwealth and all was cloar.

60. Mr PREVOT said that after Mr STUART’s oxplanations ho finds it is possible to become a special member of tho Commonwealth. Ho thought that the Govornmont could now present to tho Assembly a motion which epocifios tho conditions of entry that tho Now Hebrides will have on joining the CommonwGalth. Tho conditions should especially bo that tho Now Hebrides shall not be submitted to tho collective decisions relating to tho sovereignty of this nation.

61. Minister KALKOA a3kod what does this sentonco mean that the Commonwealth Secretariat "organises mootings and conforonccs and is rosponsiblo for putting into effect decisions for collective action". Tho "collective action" is the question of Mr PREVOT.

62. Mr STUART replied that "collective action" means in this caso programs; for example it could bo decided to do a spacial Commonwealth program on Malaria eradication, it could bo that tho Commonwoalth countries together would docide to set up an organisation for tho collection of statistics on birth control within tha Commonwoalth countries. It is rather like the S.P.C. the countries together can decide on things that they want to do together. It does not, repoat not, cover political power or political decisions and there is no power within the Commonwoalth to impose any political decisions or actions on any member of the Commonwealth and one of

16 RA3/PV/7

tho Commonwealth and one of tho first countetee to resist such □ power would be Great Britain because we might find ourselves obliged to take consequent decisions wo did not agree with,

63, Mr ANDENG said his concern was for the people of Ambrym and ho said they must respect the namele loaf and pigs tusk which is on the flog and he did not want anyone olso to come and rulo his country. There must be rospoct for the nomele leaf, tho pigs tusk and the Govornmont of tho New Hebrides

< otherwise the pigs tusk and namele leaf will have no meaning. He did notunderstand fully the type of organisation such os tho ACCT nor the Commonwealth, He did not want to speak against oithor the British or the French he just wanted to understand the position. His country must be completely independent respecting its flag and emblem.

64, Father LEYMANG asked a question concerning the collective deciBions,r it could happen sometimes that the decisions of the New Hebrides would not

correspond with those of other Governements of tho Commonwealth for example if the New Hebrides took a decision on the zone of 200 miles which is not the decision of the states of the Commonwealth and if for example tho Now Hebrides Ropublic takos a decision concerning tho zone Sterling or tho zone Frenc which is not the one of tho Commonwealth countries does the New Hebrides Republic keep its liberty of decision ?

65preserve absolutely tho sovereignty of tho state if It joins

Hr STUART replied that tho New Hebrides, Britain or anyone else will the Commonwealth

It can taka whatever decisions it likes such 03 questions of the rule of thosoa or any money. Thore areCommonwealth, Hany have no

many different monetary systoms relation whatever to oach othor

inside thoas thore arc

entirely different positions on the law of tho sen, Britain is probably inthe minority in the law of and it is quito impossible what its decision on thoso

the sonfor thomatters

conference in tho CommonwealthCommonwealth to dictate to anywould bo and even in technical

countriescountrymatters a

country is not obliged to tako part in joint Commonwealth programs it is up to itsolf to docido whether to do so. Thore is no power in the Commonwealth to toll any member to do anything, it is a matter of discussion and if you agroc you carry out these docioions and if you do not agroo you don’t.Britain has been told many timo3 what to do by Commonwealth countrios but tho decision is entirely hor own. Tho New Hebrides will bo free, it is not a matter Df big states tolling small states what to do. Tho small Ropublic

17 RA3/PV/7

of Nauru is □ member of the Commonwealth and the New Hebrides will be as free as Nauru and as free as Great Britain if it chooses to join the Commonwealth. It is regrettable that thoro has boon times whan Commonwealth countries fought each other but this not a good thing because one of the aims of the Commonwealth is to find ways of solving differences without wars. Pakistan and India were both members of tho Commonwealth when fighting their war over Bangladesh and Pakistan left the Commonwealth not because of India but because othor mombors of the Commonwealth recognized Bangladesh.

66. Ministor NAUPA again nailed for a vote.

67. Mr CARLOT said it was vary good to hoar all those explanations which wore not clear before. He said thero wero two ways of joining tho Commonwealth, ono was of a political nature and the other a technical nature, one was a full member and the othor a special member and this was not known before os it was not on the papors. He said that the New Hebrides needed holp from France and Great Britain after independence and the relationships with the two Governments must continue. Hu thought it would be bettor for thoNow Hebrides to join as a special member of tho Commonwealth and laavo tho full membership to bo discussod later on. Ho did not think it wise to join tho political sido as wo had nothing in common politically 'With Australia or India and it would be better politically to join with Pacific Nations.Ho naked Minister KALKOA to amond his motion so that the Now Hebrides would join as a special momber only and receive technical aid.

68. Father LEYMANG supported Mr CARLOT's proposal.

69. Ministor KALPOKAS thanked Hr STUART for coming and making everything cloar and ho spoke of tho freedom of oach member country of the Commonwoalth. He said that Fiji and Now Guinaa had boon mombors for some time now and had not rogrettod it.

70. Mr STUART said if you are a special mombor you do not pay foes to the Commonwealth but if a full member you do pay foos. This is one of the reasons of becoming a special mombor. Tho current fee for a full member is about eightoon thousand pounds sterling per year so thero is a financial argument for starting with a special membership first.

71. Chiof Ministor told tho Assombly that tho Council of Ministers and hie Government had approved this motion and it would be difficult to amend this motion so he thought the motion should go to the vote. If the motion is rejected then in the future an amendment can be introduced.

ie - RA3/PV/7

72. Mr PREVOT asked if tho vote was to be taken on joining as □ full member or as a spocial member.

73. The Chairman repliod that there was only one paper before him and this waa the motion he was putting to tho vote.

74. I*lr BOUELKCNE asked a further question of tho British Resident Commissioner. He wanted it confirmed if there were really two possibility

of going inside the Commonwealth or woro there threo;-1) one country to take Quoen Elizabeth ns Hoad of Staton2) ono country to go in the Commonwealth but Queen Elizabeth was

not tho Hoads of Stato. Now was thoro another way?

75. nr STUART ropliod there aro two possibilities - if tho Naw Hebrides wonts to Jain tho Commonwealth it can join as a full mombar or it can join as a special mombor. The quostion whether the Queen is tho Head of Stato has nothing to do with it., that matter has alroady boon decided in tho Constitution. You can hove tho Quoon as Hoad of State or not but theNow Hobridos Government has alroody decided not to. In theory it is poesiblo to hove the Queen as Head of State and not bo a membar of tho Commonwealth.If you want to join the Commonwealth it dous not matter what form of Government you have but you can join it in two ways ss a full member or a special member.

The Chairman then out fiction No.1 to the vote and it wsb accepted with 26 votes in favour and five against,

76. The Chairman then road a letter from tho Director and Technician of Radio New Hebrides stating that the complaint of radio broaks wore technical faults and were unavoidable

77. Father LEYMANG would not accept tho excuse,

70. The Chairman adjourned tho sitting at 3,34p.m. and resumed at 4.10p.m. He presented an additional Agenda with ItGms 9 to 14 boing Plombors' motions (ANNEX 11)1. As translation papers wore not yet ready to complete tho first Agenda, he moved to Itom 9 on tho additional Agonda which was Plotion No,5 "Political Situation in Santo". (ANNEX III) He advised that tho two Residont Commissioners would bo arriving soon to answer any questions on this motion.

79. fir VDCOR presented the motion. Ho said tho situation in Santo was of grave concorn to himBelf and Mombor ANTAS as members for the Santo areas. He said that since the elections Santo has not boon a good place to live as

19 - RA3/PV/7

the MODERATES wore making disturbances and even this day tho office of the District Commissioner had boon closed by tho Moderates and this not only affects Santo but the whole of tho Northern District and all sections of tho community. Ho said as law and order was still in tho hands of the two Resident Commissioners they must be called upon to take action on tho throe points in tho motion.

80. Mr ANTAS supported Mr VOCOR by saying how the people of Santo havo boon intimidated and are afraid.

81. Minister SERU who is tho member for Santo Rural also spoke tolling of the throats to tho people and of their fears. Ho was sure that the people behind tho disturbances wore foreigners. Ho explained that ha was run out of Santo and tho British police were ready to act on his behalf but tho French polico wore not.. Ho wanted tho Resident Commissioners to tell tho people why they haue not maintained law and order.

82. The Resident Commissioners entered tho House at 4.25p.m.

83. Pastor TARITONGA told of his fear that the situation would deteriorate still further end called on the Resident Commissioners to act.

84. Mr NAMPAS said that what is happening in Santo is also happening on his island of Tanna. Hb said it would appear that o plan of disturbance has been made for both Santo and Tanna and he said if law and order was dead in Santo it was also dead in Tanna and he also called on tho Resident Commissioners to act.

85. Minister KALKOA spoko in support of the motion and explainod that tho situation in 1977 was not tho same as today because ths Govornmont in 1977 was not properly elected one but tho Government today was a democratically elected one. He called for unity in tho country and also called on tho Resident Commissioners to establish low and ordor.

86. The Chairman asked the Resident Commissioners to speak on this

motion.

87. Inspector-General ROBERT, French Rcsidont Commissioner, said it is true that there is in Santo a situation that is not good for you, not for the Government, not for the population of Santo and not for the two Resident Commissioners. At the mooting on 8th 3anuary last in Paris the two Ministers (Metropolitan) had givon assurances that the authority of the legal Government (New Hebrides) would be respected and that thoro should bs no

20 RA3/PV/7

obstacles to the prBBence of District Agents in the districts. It is therefore necessary to take dispositions to enablo the District Agent of theGovernment to go back to his office in reason the custom poople of Santo have from the doors of ths District Agency, thought better to do this by agroomont

Santo and do his job and for this boon askod to remove the namole leaf

They were askod to do this as it was and negotiation instead of starting

a police action where it was not sure if the Govornmont force would be strong enough. The present mobile force was approximately 60 poisons and the risk was that thoy would face maybe 1 to 2 thousand people. The two Ministers (Metropolitan) have made it a condition that thoy will only accept ths Moderate delegation if the District Agoncy is re-established.The Resident Commissioners havo instructions that if the namelc loaves are not voluntarily removed at the end of this wook nocossary measures must bo taken to remove thorn and tho Franch Resident Commissioner is quite decided to apply these instructions. When the namele leaves have been removed a now District Agent will be nominated in Santo and instructions have also been received to ensure his protection and the Residencies will do this. He said that the problem in Santo is not only a problem of maintaining law and order it is a political problem which must be resolved by political means that is to say by yourselves. He also said that in a few months time the two powers (Metropolitan) will be gone and you will find yourselves in front of each other. It would be good if at that time the tensions have disappeared and so you must try now to do something to make thorn disappear before Independence and the two powers are ready to help you.

8B. Mr STUART, British Resident Commissioner, did not have any more toodd to the French Rosidont Commissioner's statement. Ho agreed with the statement as it represented tho policy of his Government. He was prepared to support tho actions that Mr ROBERT had outlined and hoped that tho Assembly end Govornmont of tho New Hobridos would support thorn also.

99. Minister KORISA said he was surprised that the two Resident Commissioners had to come to tho Assombly so tho Assembly can tell thorn what work thoy should do. Ho said tho two Governments had failed to koep law and order. Lots of promises have boen given by the two Residencies but the Assembly is still awaiting some action on them end in the meantime the people suffer. He hopod that what they have Baid today they will keep too.

21 RA3/PV/7

90. Messrs ANDENG, TAHI and HOPA then discussed this motion generally.

91. Chief Minister said he wanted a confirmation of three points which the Resident Commissioners had made in their statementss-

1) that the namele leaves will be removed from the door of the District Commissioner before the end of thiB week.

2) If the namelo loaves are not removed they will take measuros to reopon the office.

3) tho Government will appoint a new District Commissioner and his eafoty will be guaranteed.

He asked the Resident Commissioners to ploaso confirm this,

92. Inspector-General ROBERT said he wished to confirm the throe points but soid thoy were not new as these wore the decisions taken after the meeting in Paris and this is only the consequenco of the meeting wo had in Paris. Ho did not believe that thoy had not done in the past the things thoy had promisod to do. He did not think there was a specific case where they could bG sighted in that sonse. Every time they had made promises he thought they had been held. The decisions that wore taken for the Dologation in Santo will be executed.

93. Mr STUART said he .also confirms and hopos that thoy con now move on to find a political solution to the problems of Santo once this matter hoe boon resolved.

94. Minister NAUPA said they were talking on the problems of Santo and Tanna and he wanted to confirm that Saturday last weak a member of tho Assembly helped the boat "TASWEIGEN" to bo loaded with goods to go to Sulphur Bay and the names of all the people who holpod arc known and it is not enough when asking tho Rosidont Commissioners to take action thoy speak about ponco and law and order in this country. He askod why the Resident Commissioners acted separately in Santo but when the law warranted action in Tanna nothing was done.

95. Tho Resident Commissioners would make no comment.

96. Ministor KALPOKAS said ho would like to set tho record straight. Tho Paris and London agreement was made beforo tho Santo office was closed yot no action had been taken yot.

22 RA3/PV/7

97. to VOCOR Baid aS the member for Loganville he wa? concerned for the security of the people there. From the time of the elections the people of

Loganville had been insecure end the two Reaident Commissionare must guarantee the security of these people end those who have had to leave can come back and earn their living* He also wonted it made known to the people of the brswkswsy movement in Santo that it was not the wish of the peopleof Santo, He was a Sonto mon and he knew this was not the wish of the Santo people but of others from outside who wanted to steal Sento.

98. Mr BOULEKONE spoke in support Df the motion and made a lengthy speech in which he appealed to all the islanders living in Santo but who are not from Santo, and especially the Pentecost people in Santo, to refrain from taking port in any political disturbances and refrain from any action against those who ore taking action in accordance with this Motion No,5.

ThB Chairman then put Motion No,5 to the voto and it_was carried with 27 votes in favour* 2 against and 2 abstentions.

99. The Chairman thanked ths two Resident Commissionerb for attending

and for their comments and answers to questions.

100. Mr PREVOT explained that he was against the motion because there was nothing specific in it. He thought they had voted last year on a similar motion where they asked tho two Resident Commissioners to make l*w and order be respected hare, but this motion has been talking about generalities nothing specific has been mentioned there.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting st 5,25p,m♦

The Chairman

Pastor Fred K. TTMAKATA


ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/7RA3/M/4-POriginal: English8 January 1980

MOTION No. 1

Put by: Hon. Walter H, LINI

Seconded by: Hon. George A. KALKOA

WHEREAS by an Exchange of Notes dated the 2jrd day of October 1979

the Government of the Republic of France and the United Kingdom of

Great Britain and Northern Ireland agreed that the New Hebrides

should become a sovereign and independent state on a date in 19&O

to be determined NOW LET IT BE RESOLVED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

that the New Hebrides shall apply to become a Member of the

Commonwealth of Nations on the Day of Independence AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that this House request the Government of Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth II to notify the Secretary-General of the

Commonwealth asking him to seek the concurrence of all Commonwealth

Governments thereto

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be

dispatched to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs through His Honour the British Resident Commissioner.

ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/7

THE COMMONWEALTH

ORIGINThe emergence of the British Commonwealth is a by-product of the

American War of Independence in 1776® Having lost her american colonies, the British Government consequently took a different attitude when Canada, Australia and New Zealand and South Africa

* began to develop their separate interests - when their settlers began to demand greater control over their own affairs.

The initial British reaction was to try to build a relationship with her colonies ^Aich would prevent them from breaking away from

the 'motherland* and disregarding her interests. Thisinvolved conceding a gradual increase in their own independent powers

* as soon as they began to feel constraints by their colonial links with Britain, and simultaneously encouraging their cultural and

emotional links with the motherland.

It was in this context that the meetings of colonial - later

’Dominim1 - Prime Ministers began to be held in London in 1911. These Prime Ministers Conferences continued to be held until 1937, mainly to discuss matters of common concerns, particularly constitutional questions, foreign affaires, defence and economic

policy.

This was the era of the 'Old Commonwealth' (or sometimes known* as the 'white Commonwealth') and its membership only included

Canada, Australia, Now Zealand (apart from UK) whose people were largely of British stock. During this period (up to 19?0s) although all members were independent states, Britain was accepted as the

automatic leader, the first among equals.

NEW COMMONWE/iLTHIndia's membership of the Commonwealth after her independence in

1957 set a new era in the development of the original British* Commonwealth. Once Pakistan, Ceylon and Ghana followed suit, it

became an automatic practice to accept newly independent British ex-colonies into the Commonwealth. This process continued up to the present day - and the commonwealth membership has risen to 42 countries

ANNEX I TO HA3/PV/7_ 2 -

by the end of 1978.None of the states which joined the Commonwealth after 19^5 were

- or are - British in culture or nationalist sentiment. However they, as British ex-colonics, share certain common features; their postindependence administrative systems, their judiciary, and their commercial structures, were all created by the British rulers, and have developed along what are basically British lines. The official language used by them is English - although it may not be their national language or their language of Government. Unlike in the ’Old Commonwealth’, Britain is no longer the automatic leader of today’s Commonwealth. This is dispite tho very inequality of military and economic strought and degrees of political stability in

the Commonwealth states. The establishment of the Commonwealth

Secretariat in 19^5 is an evidence of this equality of the memberstates. This has enabled the Commonwealth to develop along independent lines in accordance with tho interests of all its member-states, and to establish and develop institutions to which all member-states feel able to call upon for sympathy or support during unmanageable circumstanc cs.

THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIATThe Commonwealth Secretariat is an international body at the

service of all member-states, providing the central organization for joint consultation and co-operation in many fields.

The Secretariat is responsible to Commonwealth Governments collectively, and functions as the main agency for multilateral communication between them. It promotes consultation, and collects and disseminate information for their use. It organises meetings and conferences and is responsible for putting into effect decisions for collective action.

The Secretariat also gives technical assistance for economic and

social developments through the multilateral Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).

The Headquarters of the Secretariat are in London, at Marlborough House, which was made available as a Commonwealth centre by H.M. The

-15 - zlNNEX I TO RA3/PV/7

FINANCEThe cost of the Secretariat is met by Commonwealth Governments.

Each Government is allocated an agreed share of contribution, related to its capacity to pay and its population and national income,

Britain pay tho largest annual contribution (30%) followed by Canada (20.46%), Australia (9.26%), India (7.73%) and New Zealand (1.80%);

„ Bangladesh, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Sri Lanka; Tanzeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zambia each pays 1.5 per cent. The Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cyprus, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta Mauritius Swaziland, Tonga and Western Samoa each pay 0.75%* Nauru, a special member, makes an annual contribution of S1,000. Seycelles, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea also make financial

contributions.

The Secretariat's annual budget is considered by a finance committee composed of Commonwealth High Commissioners in London (or their representatives) and a representative of the British Government. It is then submitted to Commonwealth Government for approval* The

ordinary budget for 1945-76 is f1,622,735 - however it has risen to over 2 million pounds for 1979-80.

The Secretariat also administers the separate budgets of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) and the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

•

STAFF jKD ORGANIZATIONS

Staff in the Secretariat, including the CFTC and the Commonwealth Youth Programme numbered about 280 in 1975. Staff members include nationals of the majority of Commonwealth member countries. In addition, the Secretariat has a representative in Papua New Guinea, a representative in the Caribbean and a trade adviser based in Genova. Regional staff also include officers appointed to the two

• Commonwealth regional health secretariats in nfrica and to theregional centres for youth work in India, Guyara and Zambia.

- - ANNEX I TO RAj/PV/7

The Secretury-G onicr al of the Commonwealth is appointed byCommonwealth Heads of Government collcctivelly. Ho is assisted by:-

(a) A Deputy Secretary-General responsible for general duties, including international relations, administrations and conference services;

(b) n Deputy Secretary-General responsible for economic matters.(c) nn Assistant Secretary-General responsible for education,

youth, health, and other areas of functional co-operation.

The Secretariat is

to its main area of opeCommodities education information

finance

organized in divisions and

ation. These arei- international affairs legal matters healthscience and technology

sections corresponding

trade and finance youth activities

The CFTC has divisions administering the Funds programmes and a headquarter of its technical assistance group.

COMMONWEALTH MEETINGS

The Secretariat is responsible for organising mootings of Commonwealth Hoads of Government. It has organised:-

two meetings in London (1966 and 1969) a meeting in Lagos (1966)

n " in Singapore (1971)" " in Ottawa (1973)

" " in Kingston (1975)" *’ in Lusaka (1978)

It also organises and services annual meetings, conferences inviting government Ministers and officials to attend. Such meetings may concern such matters as trade, tourism, youth activities, and food and rural development. It further arranges specialist conferences, seminars and workshops in a number of areas of functional co-operation

- usually in various commonwealth countries. Finally such as the Agence dos Cooperation Technique et Culturelie.


SECRETARIAT'S FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES - International affaires— - - - T-w ■ - .--J— -IW--I . E°E\’S7SFSE;.M> IH'w-r-aic.-c n i a,

1) With material assistance provided by Commonwealth governments, the secretariat, through its own conducted researches, maintains extensive archives on international issues. These

are accessible to commonwealth governments, a large number of which do not have many missions overseas.

Laison is maintained with other international and regional bodies and organizations such as the Organisation of African Unity, the Caribbean Community and the South Pacific Commission,

ii ) Economic AffairesStatistical and other economic material is compiled and collated by the Secretariat and distributed to member governments, and paper are prepared for consideration at Commonwealth meetings

* concerned with financial and economic problems. These are sent regularly to commonwealth governments and international bodies in order to keep developments under review.

i i i) Development AssistanceThe Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) is a multilateral development fund established in 1971 and is administered by the secretariat. He is an undertaking in mutual self-help, designed to meet technical assistance needs

of developing member countries, associated states, dependent territories and Commonwealth inter-governmental organizations and agencies,

A

Tho CFTC provides assistance through 5 programmes:

(a) The General Technical Assistance Programme:identifor and recruits within the Commonwealth the professional, technical and managerial expertise requested by developing member countries - especially to meet manpower needs in such fields as economic planning, transport, public administration, tourism, port development, constitutional legislation, national accounting

• and statistics;

(b ) The Educationand Training Programme:provides for tho training of people from developing countrios in

other developing countrios;

- 6 - ANNEX I TO RAj/FV/7

(c) The Export Market Development Programme!covers market studies and other technical assistance towards the expansion of exports, and includes the financing of regional trade

promotion seminars,

iv) Education

In the field cf education, the Secretariat plays a number of roles to encourage and assist co-operation among commonwealth

countries:-(a) keeps educational developments under review;(b) promotes the study of ways of dealing with particular

educational problems;(c) publishes information on various educational topics

e.g, mathematics teaching, education in rural areas etc.

v) Youth

Tho Commonwealth Youth Programme was finally inaugurated in 1975 after four years of preparation. Its aim is basically to seek

solutions to the problems of youth in member countries, particularly in relation to employment. Ehree regional centres have been set up in Guyana, Zambia and India to provide training programmes for youth leaders; gather and disseminate information on youth work and to offer technical assistance with youth programmes.

vi) HealthA primary responsibility of the Secretariat in the field of health is to foster cooperation by ensuring that training opportunities (in developing as well as in developed member countries) conferences and research projects are brought to the attention of all member countries.There has boon close consultation with governments on regional co-operation in medical training and the pooling of specialist services and the establishment of two regional health secretariat for West and Southern Africa.


CFTC funds have boon allocated to help regional co-operatives efforts to improve health services in West Africa, the Caribean and

the Pacific.

vii) LawIn the field of law, the Secretariat is primarly engaged in

facilitating the exchanging of information among member governments on legislation in their respective countries and on other legal

matters.

It also brings to the attention of governments on particular legal problems; keeps governments informed on significent changes in the laws of other member countries; helps with legal matters at Commonwealth Conferences; and provides government with advice on specialized legal matters.

viii) Science and TechnologyThe Commonwealth Science Councils (CSC) meeting in Lusaka in 197^ reclarified the role of the Secretariat; to help member countries

to use science and technology more effectively in their economic and social development. It was then planned that the Secretariat was to shortly provide services to the Commonwealth Science

Council and administer its budget.

Through CTFC funds, the Secretariat has already coordinated a

project on small-scale industrial developments in Tanzania which

drew on the expertise and training resources of Sri Lanka and India.

ix) Commonwealth InformationThe basic aim of this Commonwealth programme launches in 1971 was to make people in member countries aware of the natural, activities and value of the modern Commonwealth Association. Thus the Secretariat produces publicity material relating to Commonwealth meetings and plans and conducts the media arrangements for conference in collaboration with host Governments.

Secretariat news releases have more than doubled since 197%


DECLARATION OF COMMONWEALTH PRINCIPLES

On 22 January 197% st their meeting in Singapore, Commonwealth Heads of Government unanimously approved the following declaration of Commonwealth Principles:

The Commonwoalth of Nations is a voluntary association of

independent sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace.

Members of the Commonwealth come from territories in the six continents and five oceans, include peoples of different races, languages and religions, and display every stage of economic development from poor developing nations to wealthy industralised nations. They encompass a rich variety of cultures, traditions and institutions.

Membership of the Commonwealth is compatible with the freedom of member Governments to be non-eligned or to belong to any other grouping, association or alliance. Within this diversity all members of the Commonwoalth hold certain principles in common. It is by pursuing these principles that the Commonwealth can continue to influence international

society for the benefit of mankind.

Wc believe that international peace and order are essential to the security and prosperity of mankind; we therefore support the United Nations and seek to strengthen its influence for peace in the world, and its efforts to remove the causes of tension between nations.

We believe in the liberty of the individual, in equal rights for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief, and in their inalienable right to participate by means of free and democratic political processes in framing the society in which they live. We therefore strive to promote in each of our countries those representative institutions and guaronteos for personal freedom under the law that are

our common heritage.

We recognise racial prejudice as a dangerous sickness threatening the healthy development of the human race and racial discrimination as an unmitigated evil of society. Each of us will vigorously combat this

evil within our own nation.


No Country will afford to regimes which practise racial discrimination assistance which in its own judgment directly contributes

to the pursuit or consolidation of this evil policy. We oppose all forms of colonial domination and racial oppression and are committed to

the principles of human dignity and equality.

We sill therefore use all our efforts to foster human equality and

dignity everywhere, and to further the principles of self-determination

and non-racialism.Wo believe that the wide disparities in wealth now existing betwean

different sections of mankind are oo great to be tolerated. They also create world tensions. Our aim is their progressive removal. We

therefore seek to use our efforts to overcome poverty, ignorance and disease, in raising standards of life and achieving a more equitable international society.

To this end our aim is to achieve the freest possible flow of international trade on terms fair and equitable to all, taking into account the special requirements of the developing countries, and to encourage tho flow of edequate resources, including governmental and private resources, to the developing countries, bearing in mind the importance of doing this in a true spirit of partnership and of establishing for this purpose in the developing countries conditions which are conducive to sustained investment and growth.

We believe that international co-operation is essential to remove the causes of war, promote tolerance, combat injustice, and secure development among the peoples of the world. We are convinced that the Commonwealth is one of the most fruitful associations for these purposes.

In pursuing these principles the members of the Commonwealth believe that they can provide a constructive example of the multi-national approach which is vital to peace and progress in the modern world. The association is based on consultation, discussion and co-operation.

In rejecting coercion as an instrument of policy they recognise that the security of each members state from external aggression is u matter of concern to all members. It provides many channels for continuing exchanges of knowledge and views on professional, cultural economic, legal and political issues among member states.

These relationships we intend to foster and extend, for we believe that our multi-national association can expand human understanding and understanding among nations, assist in the elimination of discrimination based on differences of race, colour or creed, maintain and strengthen personal liberty, contribute to the enrichment of life for all, and provide a powerful influence for peace among nations.

ANNEX II TO RA3/PV/7RA3/AG/1.8D (Am.2)18 February 1980Original: English



Wednesday, 13 February, 1980

AGENDA

Item Nd. Document No.

9. Draft Motion Na.5Political situation in Sonto ........ RA3/M/5-P

10. Draft Motion No.6Chapter 9(2) of the Constitution .... RA3/M/S-P

11. Draft Motion No.7Assembly Members' Allowances .................. RA3/M/7-P

12. Draft Motion No.8Legislation re Workers’ Benefit ........... RA3/M/8-P

13. Draft Motion No.9RoadB and Airfield - Island ofMaewo ............................... RA3/M/9-P

14. Draft Motion No.10Concerning Island of Aoba ........... RA3/M/1D-P

MEW HEBRIDESRE P RESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

ANNEX III TO RA3/PV/7 RA3/M/5-P12 February 19S0 Original: English

DRAFT MOTION ND, 5

Put by: Hon. Joie ANTASSeconded by: Hen. Kalmer VOCOR

The subversive political situation in Santo has been

* allowed to develop unchecked to a present state whereby civildisorder and disrespect of Law prevails. It is furthermore alarming to see that the closure of the District Commissioner's Office in Luganville is having serious detrimental effects, particularly with respect tn maintenance of administrative links with the New Hebrides Government, running of schools and business

» enterprises in Santo and social relationships between thepopulation of Santo as a whole.

Since this subversive situation emerged and consequently developed as a direct result of inadequate maintenance of Law and Order (or a lock of it); and since Law and Order still remains under the competence of the British and French Resident Commissioners, LET IT BE RESDLVED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY that:-

(i) the British and French Resident Commissioners take immediate appropriate measures to check

t the situation in Santo from furtherdeterioration;

(ii) the British and French Resident Commissioners take immediate steps towards re-opening of the District Commissioner's Office in Luganville;

(iii) the British and French Resident Commissioners make a solemn committment to ensure against further closures of any New Hebrides Government public offices and attempted closures of any private business enterprise offices in Santo.

Nau HebridesRepresentative Assembly

RA3/PV/8Original? English


Wednesday, 20 February, 19B0

Chairman ! Pastor Fred K, TIMAKATAPresent 31 MembersAbsent Messrs G.

H.A.A.C.W.T.A.

CRONSTEADT KARAERU MALERE MALIU NAKO NALAN TUNGU YOLOU

1, The Chairman oponsd the sitting at 8.38a.m. and moved to Item 10 on the Agenda which was Motion No.6 concerning Chapter 9(2) of the Constitution (ANNEX i).

2. Minister NAUPA explained his motion by first reading Chapter 9(2) of the Constitution to the House.

3. Ministor KALSAKAU said he supported tho motion but for a difforont reason than that of Minister NAUPA. His concorn, particularly in the Public Sorvico is that thoro aro a lot of people working in tho Public Sorvico but on tho day of Independence they will not be citizons of the Now Hebrides. The Constitution givos somo poople about throe months to apply to become citizons or not of the Now Hebrides and for a lot of others the Constitution doesn’t say at what time thoy should apply to bocomo citizens. In his Ministry’s departments there are lots of poople who are halfcast or French or English and on tho day of Independence, if wo follow tho Constitution, it is necessary to get rid of them, this is quito unfair for ovory man who is in tho Govornmont sorvico and is not a citizen on tho day of indopondonco it moans they will bo out of job, so thcro must ba time to let theso people decide about citizonshipo A decision should bo takon now bo that the non-citizons on tho day of independence will continue their work for porhapa one or two yoare or evon just six months.

4. Mr CARLOT said ho agreed with Ministor KALSAKAU that tho work of tho Administration should not bo interrupted on the day of indopondonco but should continue smoothly. He pointod out that tho Constitution statos that

2 RA3/PV/8

ths Parliament shall pass a law about all these people the motion speaks of. He did not know if the motion was to aek for the preparation of this draft law or whether they are to make a decision when adopting this motion. If this motion is to hove executive power then it would be bettor to adopt the second solution which says in tho Constitution that Parliament must pass a law regarding all thoso poople who aro not citizens of tho country.

5. Minister NAUPA said tho basic idoa is that after Indopondonco weshould have officers only on contract for perhaps six months or ono yearuntil tho Parliament has a chanco to moot to study the requests forcitizenship. If contracts aro given for only ono month poople will feel secure but six months or ono year should bo alright. Ho told Mr CARLOT that tho motion was open to amendments.

6. Mr CARLOT said that tho Minister had answered him part. Ho said the motion is claar in stating that oil those who aro citizens on tho day of indopondonco will continuo thoir work but thoso who are not but may have appliod can only bo givon a contract and thot sooms to be tho basic idea,

7. Ministor KALKOA said that when Mr KALSAKAU was Chief Ministor in tho first Gouornmont ho had triad to unify tho two National Sorvicos by forming a Public Service but from the beginning thore had boon no proper structure for this service and it is still not known who from the National Services aro qualified to como into tho Public Service. At tho time of forming tho Public Service many who woro working in tho Govornmont bocarno pormanont Public Sorvanta and it was irrelevant if they were British- or French, Many of thoso were half casts and born in tho Now Hebrides. Thera arc also Europoans who ore on tho pormonont staff. It is now quite clour by the Constitution that foreigners do not have tho right to bo permanent public servants. He agrood with Minister KALSAKAU that pooplo who woro born here but because they had white, ancestors, woro ineligible to continuo their employment in the Public Service. He said it was now up to tho Parliament to decide what to do about those poople. This motion we havo before us is not discriminatory it is here to give us guidance and we should study this very carefully and perhaps coms up with something concrete in the next session of the Assembly.

B. Mr PREUOT agreed that the Constitution should be studied carefully on this point. Ho said tho motion wa3 not quite clear as it proposed giving pormanont public sorvico positions to New Hebrideans but what about

3 RA3/PV/S

those who are already working in the Public Service and are hoping to got promotion aomo time. Tho motion also does not say when its proposals would become effoctive.

9. Minister KALSAKAU said that what Mr PREVOT has just sold is most important. Ho said that they aro not talking about localising as soon as possible to givo local people positions to which they aro not qualified. There are many position which can bo localised and many positions which will require more timo to bo localised. University graduates will be needed to occupy soma positions. This motion is not calling for quick localisation but the problem they have is that on the day of independence many will be loft without a job and the Constitution gives them only three months to make up thoir minds whether they want to bocomo citizens or not. He thought this was unfair and that they should have a reasonablo length of timo to mako up thoir minds and not lose thoir jobs on tho day of independence.

10. Mr TAHI said that in his experience in tho Public Sorvico he found there woro many expatriates doing work that thoy woro not qualified for and thoro were Now Hebrideans who woro qualified to take those positions but had not been given tho chanco. Ho said priority should bo given to people from the Now Hebrides.

11. Ministor KALSAKAU replied and said it is truo that there are somo positions which can be localised but some can not bo localised straight away, for example doctors. Ho said you can not mako a Droaser bocomo a qualified doctor overnight.

12. Minister NAUPA aaid Mr PREVOT is worried about paragraph throo and asked is ho worried about the nationality of tho Government. Ho said that ir hie Public Works about 60 per cont of tho employees aro expatriates and it must be studied very carefully to ensure tho Govornmont machinory continues working and in thia rospact it will bo noccssary to give soma form of security to these people.

13. Mosers CARLOT, KALSAKAU, BOULEKONE, PREVOT and Chiof Minister addod further discussion to this motion.

Tho Chairman put Motion No.6 to tho voto and it was carried unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

14. Tho Chairman then mavad to Item No.II on the Agenda Motion No,7- Assembly Members’ Allowances (ANNEX II).

RA3/PV/8- 4 -

15. Pastor HOPA introduced the motion which concerns all members of tho Assembly. Ho pointed out that on indopondenco tho Assembly will become Parliament and all tho mombors will have tremondous responsibilities tothe people of the Now Hebrides and in particular to their own constituencies to ensure tho progress of the country. He said the members should be free of their other responsibilities so that they could concentrate on their responsibilities to their country. He pointed out that thoso members who hove jobs are in quite a different situation when attending meetings of tho Assembly and having giuen this some thought and considering that the motion should be moro specific he proposes an amendment to the motion which iss-

"THE NOTION SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR THEM TO MAKE A FURTHER STUDY OF IT AND PREPARE A REPORT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE NEXT SESSION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY".

16. Chief Minister said that as this motion concerns all the members of the Assombly there should be two ether mombors with the Chairman and Minister of Finance to form a committee for study of the motion as suggested by Pastor HOPA. He suggested that one should bo a member of tho Vanuoaku Pati and ona □ member of the Opposition and if this were included in Pastor HOPA's amendment he would support tho arnondment.

17. Minister KALSAKAU said tho Chief Minister's proposal is quite acceptable but he considers tho two mombers should bo from the islands. He did not think a member from either Vila or Santo should be on tho committee because of tho travelling roquirod by island members. Ho seconded tho proposal mado by tho Chiuf Minister.

10. Minister KALKOA pointed out that the cost of travelling in the islands by truck and by spoodboat was very expensive now. He also said that most mombors had families to keep and that school fees woro vary high now and with thoso expanses plus tho ordinary keeping of the household the member was in need of a good recompense, not a luxury living, but an adequate one to onable him to carry out his responsibilities to tho people. Ho thought perhaps that married members should have some family allowance.

RA3/PV/0

19. Mr BOULEKONE agreed with the motion and amendments but said the motion cuts off the subsistence and representation allowances but does not mention the touring allowance. He also askod about the allowances for alternate so that he could help tho momber in his constituency.

20. Mr CARLCT said a document waa submitted last year and if thia were studied with tho present motion ho thought a decision could bo taken now without going to a committee for further study.

21. The Chairman thought that the documents fir CARLOT referred to could be boat bo studiod first by tho committee.

22. Minister KALPOKAS nominatod Pastor Jack HOPA as a mombor of tho Committao.

23. Mr ANOENG refused nomination as he and Pastor HOPA camo from tho 9ame island and ho thought it preferable that a mombor from another island be nominatod. Ho supported Pastor HOPArs nomination.

24. Tho Chairman said that although Father LEYMANG and Mr BOUELKONE lived in Vila thoy both represented rural districts and wore oligiblo for nomination,

25. Mr BOUELKONE said thoro was no ncod to have an Opposition party member as this is not a political issue. Ho said that anothor Vanuaaku member shoud be nominated preferably ono from one of the extreme north or south whoro thoro wore travelling and communication probloms,

26. Pastor TARITONGA nominatod Mr TAHI mombor for Aoba/Maouo,

27. Mr SANDY thought that tho second mombor should be from tho Opposition and said if both wore to bo from the Vanuaaku Pati then a voto on the motion could be taken immediately,

28. Tho Chairman put Motion No.7 to tho vote with the amendment that the motion be referred to a committoo comprising the Chairman of the Assembly, the Ministor of Financo with Messrs HOPA and TAHI for study and to prepare a report to bo presented to tho noxt session of the Assembly.The motion as amended was carried with 26 votes in favour and 5 abstentions.

29. The Chairman then moved to ItGm 12 on tho Agenda which was Motion No.0 - Legislation re Workers Benefits (ANNEX III).

30. Minister KALSAKAU introduced the motion. Ho said that forIndependence there must be many laws passed but the Government must not

6 RA3/PV/B

forgot that there must bo some laws in 1980 concerning labour. He said the biggest resource this country has is manpower which is referred to as labour and the Government must do something to protect this manpower. He said there had baen a lot of talk about this in the past but no action and

it is now time to take this action.

31. fir CARLOT in support of the motion said ho would like to know if it wae possible to voto for all these draft laws before the end of 1900. He said these law3 deserve priority in every subject on Independence. The previous Governments hod made research into theso laws and ho thought that the Govornmont now should study tho roseerch already made and enforce those laws before tho end of 1980.

32. Mosers PREVOT and SANDY spoke in support of this motion.

The Chairman adjourned ths sitting at 10a.m. and resumed at 10.20a,m. continuing with discussion on Motion No,8.

33. Messrs REGENVANU, BOULEKONE, KORISA and SERU supported and commented on this motion.

34. Chief Minister said that thore were many laws to be passed this year and the motion should bo more flexible rathor than saying these laws must be passed before the end of 1980.

35. Minister KALSAKAU replied that when introducing this motion ho said that tho laws to take tho country into independence had priority but those labour laws had already been drafted by the previous Governments but had just boon filed away. He said it wae simply taking tho drafts from tho files and putting them to tho Assomby for discussion during 1980. If by any reason tho Government is unable to present those laws to tho Assembly during 1980 they must give a door oxpinnation for this.

36. Ministor KALPOKAS movod that the motion bo put to tho voto.

The Choirman put Motion No,8 to the vote and it was carried by30 votes in favour and 1 against.

37. The Chairman then movod to Itom No.13 on tho Agenda - Motion No,9- Roads and Airfield on tho Island of Maowo (ANNEX IV),

38. Mr TAHI presented tho motion. He said Maewo seems to be tho forgotton island of tho Now Hobridos. Ho said it is vory difficult for tho people of Maowo to obtain transport to anothor part of tho Now HobridoB

7 1RA3/PV/0

and especially to got to □ hospital. It is necossary to go by boat to Lolowai to take an aircraft Cor Santo or Vila or anywhere also in ths Group ond because of weather or rough sans this is not always possible, Gouernmont ropraoentotivss havo gone to Maowo many times and askod tho people thoro what thoy wanted and tho people havo always said wo wont a road and an airfield. Ho said the Govej-nmont ropresontativos had always said yos, yos, yos, but nothing was ovor dona. Tho pooplo of Maewo baliouo that they are being deceived, f] road was constructed by hand by tho Maewo people and tho Gurkos had to como to construct a bridge because tho Maowo pooplo wero unable to do this by hand but this was long ago and nothing has boon done by the Government for tho Maewo people.

39. Mr PREVOT said the previous two Government had discussed the possibility of an airfield on Maowo and he thinks it is time now to do this. The prDblam is that if tho airfield is built in tho middle of I’laowo itwill bo very costly and will necossitato the cutting down of many coconut trass in native plantations. There is a batter place on a ridge in Northern Maewo. He understood that the arifiald on Maewo was the next to be build, As for the road he understood the Survey Department had surveyed it.

40. Hr VIRA said the people of Maewo wanted the airfield in tho middle of tho island. This is where there are tho most pooplo and a road can bo built to tho airfield. Ho aaid tho Government had done nothing for Maowo.

41. Messrs HOPA, OBED, NAUPA, SIMEON and BOULEKONE hold discussions on projects on Malekula and Ambrym.

42. Mr TAHI said the purpose of presenting tho motion on Maowo at tho beginning of the year was so that tho appropriate Ministries could put this in their plans.

43. Minister KALSAKAU oxplainod that this was a capital project and money for this comes from aid and is not in tho ordinary Budget. It is in tho hands of tha Central Planning Qffico tc put it in its " ordor of priority.

44. Minister NAUPA said the works program had already been established for this year and he did not think it possible to build tho Maewo airstrip this year.

45. There was then gonoral discussions on this motion ond Development Aid Program by Messrs CARLOT, HOPA, REGENVANU and PREVOT.

- 8 - RA3/PV/8

46. Minister KALPOKAS movod that the motion bo accepted in principle for tho noed of an .airfiold on Mnowe and as for the road tho Government will put it in its order of priority.

47. Minister REGENVANU seconded this proposal.

48. Minister KALKOA agreed with Minister KALPOKAS’ proposal and said it could not be known yot from where the aid would como.

49. Chief Minister said that a vote should ba taken on tho omBndmont.He confirmed that tho monoy for those projects came from Capital Aid which is rocoived from overseas. Ho said that soon tho Government will make its 1980 Dovelopmont Plan and this will depend on tho amount of aid recoived.Ho said it was planned to build throe airfields, ono of which is Maowo, whon money is available and it must bo undorstood that the works team can only build ono at a time.

50. Mr SANDY suggested that tho Minister of Transport should examine tho possibility of having amphibious aircraft for tho islands.

Tho Chairman then put Minister KALPOKAS' _amondmont to the voto and it was accoptod with 30 votos in favour and 1 abstention. Motion No.9 was

declared carriod as ame_nded.

51. Tho Chairman than askod tha membors to docido whether to continue this sitting in the evening, or not?

52. Mr CARLOT and Minister NAUPA spoke against night work and the Chairman said that as there seemed to be a consensus of opinion against working in the night the sitting would finish in the afternoon.

53. The Chairman adjourned the sitting at 11.42a.m. and resumed at 2.07p.m. by moving to Itom 14 on tho Agondo - Motion No.10 concorning the island of Aoba (ANNEX U).

54. Messre TAHI and VIRA mombors for Aoba/Maowo presented the motion with explanations. Thoy said that many projects on roods and water supply had boon promised but nothing has boon done. Mr TAHI thought that Aoba had beon neglected by past Governments.

55. Mr ROSLYN agreed with tho motion as thorn was an urgent need for water supplies on Aoba.

56. Mr PREVOT oxplainod that the last two Governments had done studios on the items in this motion and thoy should be on filo in Ministries now

9 RA3/PV/8

owoiting attention.

57. Hr BOULEKONE supported this motion and said all the islands had these same problems. Ho said that the Assombly cannot however accept proposals to have work done by the end of tho yoar oa overy island could ask for the samo projects and of course this would be impossible.

58. Minister REGENVANU said ho understood that tho list of priorities mentioned in the motion use the priorities of tho members presenting the motion and not priorities of tho Government.

59. Tho Chairman agreed uith Minister REGENVANU and said that Section 3 of the Motion was too strong as it put a time limit on the work to be completed this year.

60. Mr TAHI asked the Minister responsible if Section 2, the road from NAVAKASARA to REDCLIFF, was on the list of Government's priorities for this year or not?

61. Minister NAUPA said he did not know of this project but the road from bJALAHA to REDCLIFF will be assessed this year.

62. Mr TAHI repeated his question and the Minister replied he had no record of this.

63. Mr TAHI said he was surprised as the survoy had been carried out and the monay made available so there must bo some record of it in the files.

64. Tho Chairman said ho understood from what the Minister of Finance had said that the priorities of the 1978 and 1979 Governments were not necessarily the priorities of this Government.

65. Chiof Minister said that when Mr TAHI said that the money was thereit probably was on paper only . os when a project is prepared it gives the cost of it but this doosn’t moan that tho monay is available. Ho said that whan tho Government preparo the list of piroritios for this yoar ho will try to have thie priority includod in the list. Ho said they have to study vory carofully the distribution of money to onsuro it is distributed fairly botweon all tho islands. Ho said it is tho privilege and right of tho members to ask all these points on tho motion but it should not be said that it has to be done this yoar, it should be moro flexible.

66. Mr CARLOT said ho was sure that a report had boon made on the road Mr TAHI referred to and it would be in the hands of tho Government and as

10 - RA3/PV/B

the Chief Minister had said on paper only. Ha suggested that the present Government would look into all projects that has been put on paper previously and ask for tho money for them. Projects that are not yet on paper should be put up as motions to the Government for study. He said that when a project is put up for aid it must be ensured that the money received goes to that particular project.

67. Mr HOPA asked is Section 3 of the motion to remain as presented or is it amonded.

68. Minister KALPOKAS moved that in Section 3 the words "THIS YEAR" be

taken out.

69. Mr TAHI agreed that tho words "THIS YEAR" be deleted from section 3 of the motion.

The Chairman put the amendment to the vote and it was accepted unanimously.

Tho Chairman then put Motion No.10 to the vote and it was carriedas amended unanimously with 31 votos in favour.

70. The Chairman then moved back to the first Agenda, to Itom No.1 Motion 2 to amend the Standing Orders of the Assembly and presented the amended draft of Saction 3 of the motion concorning Ordor Nos. SO, 51, 52, 53 and 54. (ANNEX VI). He also ruled that by Standing Order No.40 Sections 1 and 5 the voting on tho first two sections of Motion No.2 was correct and has boon carried by a simple majority and that after voting on Section3 the whole motion will be put to vote which must havo a two-thirds majority

for it to pass.

71. Minister KALSAKAU said Section 50 is right except that in the last lino of Order No,50 tho word "PERSON" should bo replaced by "MEMBER".

72. The Chairman said it was correct that Standing Orders provided for passing a vote to another member and person means a person within ths

Assembly.

73. Mr PREVOT said that he had proposed that thoy koep Articles 50 to 54 as they stand in the Standing Orders because these articles referrod to the procedure for voting but what is needed to be put in is something regarding the alternate members. Ho said that ono possibility would be to say that tho alternate member can take tho placo of tho elected member and the

11 RA3/PV/8

rights of the alternate member would bo exactly tho sama rights of tho oloctod member» Ho did not see tho roason for Article 54 and thought that perhaps the French translation was not correct.

74. Mr BOULEKONE thought it would bo bettor to give thi9 motion to a legal advisor or lawyer to holp in tho drafting. Ho did not think that Motion No.2 was correct yot end hours could bo spont discussing it. In tho original article 50 tho first sentence is very important it says "THE VOTE OF MEMBERS IS PERSONAL TO THEM" and this should be kept in

«Article 50, The original Article 50 also gave tho right of a proxy veto on any opon vote but not an a secrot voto and this also should romain.

75. Mr CARLOT agreed that tho first sentenco in tho original Article 50 should bo retained and that the right of a proxy vote should bo on an opon ballot only. He said he did not agree with tho Chairman’s ruling on

. Articlo 48 in conjunction with Article 62. He did not agroo that Article48 had anything to do with Standing Orders.

76. Minister kJOREK said that perhaps the confusion is causod by tho original Ordor No.50 talking about vote and in tho new version it talks about represented. He asked does this mean tho same thing.

77. Chief Minister referring to Mr BOULEKONE’s talk said that before calling on a legal advisor the Assembly should dccido whether it was intended to pass on tho opon and the secret vote to the alternate and to

• tho delegated person. He said tho new motion completely eliminates thoidoa of secret vote.

78. Tho Chairman said he believed that the legal draughtsman when making this paper intended that the full rights of the member should pass to the alternate when he is representing the member in the Assembly. In this case the alternate has the right to vote in a public or secret ballot. Ho said it was up to Ministers KALKOA and KALPOKAS to explain this to the Assembly as thoy had put this motion.

79. Minister KALPOKAS said regarding the question of personal voto he was happy to add "THE VOTE OF MEMBERS IS PERSONAL TO THEM" to the beginning

. of Order No.50. His interpretation of the word represent was that aperson representing somebody else has tho right to talk on his behalf and to voto on his behalf whether it is o socrot or public ballot. Also in Order No.50 tho question was ruisod about tho word "PERSON" in the last line and he said it would probably be much cloaror if tho word wss changod

12 RA3/PV/8

to "MEMBER".

80. Mr BOULEKONE said Order No.50 was much clearer to him now but the Assembly should docido whether the proxy vote should include the socrot

ballot as well as tho public vote.

81. The Chairman said thia was taken caro of in Ordor No.54.

82. Mr CARLOT seconded Minister KALPOKAS1 amendments.

83. The Chairman put _the two amendments to the vote?-1. add tho first line of Ordor No.50 "THE VOTE OF MEMBERS IS

PERSONAL TO THEM". This was carriod with 30 votes in favour and 1 against.

2. change the word "PERSON” in the last lino to "MEMBER".This was carried with 30 votes in favour and 1 abstontion.

84. Mr PREVOT Baid ho was confused by Order No.54. In the original order it eaid ono member hod one proxy voto and ho asked what was tho position now.

85. Tho Chairman said that this was covcrod in the now Ordor No.50.

86. Mr PREVOT said that in tho original ordors it said that a mombcr could only delegate this voto to ono other member and tho new orders do not soom to covor this in the fronch text.

87. Mr BOULEKONE ©aid that the motion was alright but ho bcliovod that the original Ordor Nos.53 and 54 should remain. Ho said the original Order No.53 was vory cloar concerning the dologation of a proxy vote.

88. Minister KALPOKAS gave a further explanation on the right© of alternate members and proxy vote.

The Chairman called for a vote on Soction 3 of Motion No.2 and itwps parriod with 30 votes in favour and 1 abstention.

89. Mr CARLOT again raised the question of procedure in voting on Standing Orders. Ho did not consider that Order No.48 roforred to tho Standing Orders.

90. The Chairman confirmed his ruling that soction by section requireda simple majority vote only and when the paper was complote the whole motion thon needed a two-thirds majority.

13 - RA3/PV/8

91. Nr BOULEKONE again asked for e me provision to glue a member the right to delegate his vote to a single member only.

92. Tho Chairman explained again that this was covered in Order No,50.

93. Ministor NAUPA said if Mr BOULEKONE was worried he should mako o

proposal.

94. Mr BOULEKONE gavo an example to clarify what ho had boon trying to explain. He said that supposing his alternate was not availablo and ha (Boulokono) wanted to loavo tho House and ho dolcgotod his vote to Mr HOPA. Thon Mr CARLOT wantod to loavo tho House and ho delegated his voto also to Mr HOPA. Uhnt ho was questioning was is it now possible far a member like Mr HOPA in his example to carry two proxy votes. In hie opinion no member should be able to carry more than one proxy vote and he did not think the now Ordors covored this.

95. There was then general discussion on this question by Minister KALKOA, the Chairman, Ministors REGENVANU and NAUPA and tho Chief Ministor.

96. Mr CARLOT askod the Chairman to adjourn tho sitting so that this point could be discussed privately.

97. Ths Chairman adjourned tho sitting at 4.08p.m. and resumed at 4.27p.m. by referring to Mr BOULEKONE’s question. Ho said there wore two ways of retaining tho meaning of tho original Ordor No.54, Ona was by adding a sontance to now Order No.51 roading "A MEMBER CAN ACT AS THE DELEGATE FOR ONLY ONE OTHER MEMBER" and the other was by having 2 subsections to Order Na.54 and using tho above sentence as subsoction (2). Ho preferred adding a now subsection to Order No.54.

98. Ministor REGENVANU, Minister NAUPA and tho Chairman discussod this point.

99. Mr BOULEKONE proposed that Order No,54 be divided into 2 paragraphs. The first one to road "A MEMBER CAN ACT AS THE DELEGATE FOR ONLY ONE OTHER MEMBER" and the second paragraph to read as presented.

The,-Chairman asked if the members agreed to Mr BOULEKONE*s proposal and it was accepted with 30 votos in favour and 1 abstention.

The Chairman thon put the whole Notion No.2 to the vote. It wos carried as amended with 26 votes in favour, 2 against and 3 abstentions.

14 - RA3/PV/9

100. Hr CARLOT again asked for an interpretation of Order Nos.4B and 62 of tho Standing Orders.

101. Tho Chairman replied that ho had already explained this. Ho again explained that Order No.49 referred to voting on soctions only and that 62 referred to the vote of tho whole paper.

102. Mr CARLOT said he did not agree with thia interpretation.

103. The Chairman then moved to Item 7 on the Agonda - Election of Electoral Committee. He presented □ new working papor RA3/WP/3(Rev.1) (ANNEX VII).

104. Plr BOULEKONE did not agree that tho N.H.C.C. should bo included with the political parties. He said they must be very careful not to mix up the Church with political parties.

105. The Chairman spoke in favour of including the N.H.C.C.

1D6. Father LEYMANG said he agreed that N.H.C.C, Bhould have some say in the committee but did not agree to it being included with political parties.

107. There was then genoral discussion this paper by Messrs Chairman, KALSAKAU, BOULEKONE, REGENVANU and CARLOT.

108. Chief Minister suggested that N.H.C.C. and Council of Chiefs bo takon out of tho Committoo but to havo them invited as social groups for aduico. Or ho said add the words "AND SOCIAL" after tho word "POLITICAL". The sontonce would thon road "THE ASSEMBLY IS THEREFORE ASKED TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING AS BEING POLITICAL AND SOCIAL GROUPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ARTICLE 91".

109. Minister KALPOKAS said tho second suggestion of tho Chief Minister would not be constitutional and he proposod that thoy accept tho Chiof Minister’s first suggestion.

110. Father LEYMANG seconded this proposal.

111. Tho Chairman said that if this is carried thon the number of members on tho committee would then be reduced from 24 to 20.

112. Father LEYFIANG said it was not necessary to decide on any particular number. It could be loft to ’the Govornmont or the Ministor responsible to decide on tho number.

- 15 - RA3/PV/S

113. The Chairman thought it bettor to produce a now paper incorporating ths new suggestions.

114. Nr BOULEKONE proposod that all reforonco to N.H.C.C. and C.C. be taken off the paper and to eliminate the sentence recommending that social groups should be invited to participate,

115. Minister KALPOKAS said he thought it better to have 20 on the committee and that the committee be able to invito anyone whom they consider thoir advice is necessary.

116. Minister NAUPA suggoeted that Minister KALPOKAS and Mr BOULEKONE hold discussions and prepare a now paper to be presented the next day.

117. The Chairmen osked Messrs KALPOKAS and BOULEKONE to meet with him and prepare a new working paper. Ho then adjourned the meeting at 5.25p.m.

Tho Chairman

NEW HEBRIDES ANNEX I TO RA3/PV/8REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY RAj/M/6-P

12 February 1980Original: English

DRAFT MOTION NO. 6

Put by: Hon. Minister J. NAUPA

Chapter 9 (2) of the Constitution reads that only citizens

of the New Hebrides shall be appointed to Public Office. The

Public Service Commission shall determine their qualification

for appointment to the service.

In view of the fact that Independence is not very far

away officers with foreign status at present serving as Public

Servants would become ineligible under the terms of the

Constitution to continue in permanent service.

The following recommendation is submitted:-

"TO GRANT CONTRACTS TO OFFICERS OF FOREIGN

NATIONALITY AND ALLOWING PERMANENT POSITIONS TO

NEW HEBRIDEAN CIVIL SERVANTS"


ANNEX II TO RA3/PV/8RA5/M/7-P15 February 1980Original: English

DRAFT MOTION NO. 7

Put by: Hon. Member Jack T. HOPASeconded by: Hon. Member Keith A. OBED

Whereas the fact of ensuing mutual co-operation between the

Assembly and the New Hebrides Government at all times is of vital importance! and where as without this mutal co-operation it would be difficult for members of the assembly to work closely with and understand the electorates, LET IT BE RESOLVED

by the Representative Assembly that the elected Members of the Representative Assembly be better able to be free from other responsibilities and to conduct their work more efficiently in their respective constituencies.

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the elected Members of the

Representative Assembly (excluding Ministers) be entitled to receive a basic salary of 50,000 FNH per month or 600,000 FNH per annum without further entitlement to subsistence and representation allowances.

The Motion should be referred to the Chairman of the Assembly and the Minister of Finance for them to make a further study of

it and prepare a report to be presented to the next session of the Representative Assembly.

NEW HEBRIDES ANNEX III TO RAJ/PV/8REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY RAJ/M/8-P

15 February 1980 Original: English

DRAFT MOTION NO. 8

Put by; Hon. Minister K. KALSAKAU

Seconded by: Hon. Member Albert SANDE

MOVE

THAT THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION MUST BE TABLED IN THE ASSEMBLY

BEFORE THE END OF 1980.

(i) EMPLOYMENT REGULATION LAW.(To provide for conditions of employment of workers)

(ii) WORKMENS COMPENSATION LAW.(To provide compensation for workers injured during work)

(iii) TRADE DISPUTES LAW.

(To provide for peaceful settlement of trade disputes)

(iv) INDUSTRIALt SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE LW,

(To provide minimum standards of safety at work)

(v) WORK PERMITS LAW.

(To provide for control of employment of non-citizens)

(vi) SOCIAL SECURITY.

(To provide for a contributory Provident Fund Scheme

or Pension Scheme)

(vii) ______ UNIONS LAW.

(To provide for registration of Trade Unions).

ANNEX IV TO RAj/PV/8BA3/M/9-P15 February 1980Original: English


DRAFT MOTION NO. 9

Put by; Hon. Member Onneyn TAHI

Seconded by: Hon. Member Judah VISA

CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF MAEWO

1. An airfield sight has been surveyed at TANOROQO,

KEREPEI ARIA and we request the Representative

Assembly to move that the appropriate Ministries

give the construction of this airfield the highest

priority for the people of Maewo.

2. A road from LOLORUKU through to KEREMPEI and on to

NrtSADA has been surveyed and we request the

Representative Assembly to move that the Minister

responsible for Public Works to approve in prinalplo

for the need of an airfield and road in Maewo and to

be placed in order of priority.


ANNEX V TO RA3/PV/8RAJ/M/1O-P

February 19^0Original; English

DRAFT MOTION No. 10

Put by: Hon. Member Onneyn TAHI

Seconded Hon. Member Judah VIRA

We the Members of AOBA/MAEWO Constituencies would like to

table these Motions to the First Extraordinary Session 1980.

We wish to move the following Motions in order of

priorities

1. That a road be surveyed and constructed from SARANAMUNDU,

passing through WALURIKI and LOMBAHA to LOLOPUEPUE.

2. That construction to begin on the NAVAKASARA (LONGANA)

to REDCLIFF section^ which has been surveyed sometime ago.

3. That the section between REDCLIFF and WALAHA be surveyed

and constructed.

4. That extensive studies and investigations be carried out

with a view to setting up practical water supply schemes

to meet the long term and immediate needs of the whole

population of AOBA.

5. That when satisfying immediate needs, existing small

sources of water be utilised in small water supply schemes,

6. That in order to meet long term needs the immediate

schemes must be built so that they can be intergrated into

the bigger ultimate scheme. For this we would like the

Burvey to be carried out with a view to utilising the

lakes of AOBA (MANARO).

ANNEX VI TO RAJ/PV/8RA3/M/2-P (Am. 1)18 February 1980Original: English


DRAFT MOTION NO. 2

Put by:

Seconded

Hon. Minister George A, KALKOA

Hon. Minister Donald KALPOKAS

That the Standing Orders of this House be amended as follows:

3. Delete Order Nos. 50, 51» 52, 55 and 54 and substitute

thereof

”50 The vote of members is personal to them.

A member may be represented by his alternate

member if he is unable to attend a meeting of

the Assembly either due to illness or for some

other good cause. If both the member and his

alternate ore unable to attend duo to illness

or some other good cause, the member may appoint

any other member as his nominee to represent him.

”51 A member may only be represented by his alternate

or nominee if the permission of the Chairman or

Deputy Chairman is obtained in writing before

he is so represented.

"52 A member shall inform the Chairman or Deputy

Chairman when the disability preventing him or

his alternate as the case may be ceases.

”55 The Chairman shall keep a book in which ho shall

record dotuils of attendance of alternate members

or nominees.

”54 (1) A member can act as the delegate for only

one other member.

(2) All references in these Standing Orders to

members shall be taken as referring to those

alternates or nominees who are representing

members in accordance with these Standing Orders."

ANNEX VII TO Raj/PV/8RAJ/WP/3 (Rev, 1)15 February 1980Original: English


Explanatory Note


Article 91 of the Constitution says that the ElectoralCommittee will have equal representation of all political groups* The Assembly is therefore asked to accept the following as being

political and social groups for the prupose of Article 91:~

1. VANUAAKU PAT I (V.P.);2. FEDERAL PARTY/-MODERATES (F.P/M);3. NEW HEBRIDES CHRISTIAN COUNCIL (N.H.C.C.);4. COUNCIL OF CHIEFS (C.C.),

The Jissembly is further requested to resolve and agree thatthe total membership of the Electoral Committee shall be twenty-four (24)

There being four groups (4), the Assembly is further requested to accept the following proposal with regard to representation by each of tho four (4) groups on the Electoral Committee:-

(a) V#P. would nominate ten (10) persons;(b) F.P/M, would nominate ten (10) persons;(c) N.H.C.C. would nominate two (2) persons;(d) C.C. would nominate two (2) persons.

The Assembly is hereby requested that the names of the nominees shall be submitted to the Chairman or Deputy Chairman by the end of March,

CHAIRMAN

Now HebridesRepresentative Assembly

RA3/PV/9Original? English


Thursday, 21 February, 1980

ChairmanProsentAbsent

Pastor Fred K. TIMAKATA31 MembersMossrs G. CRONSTEADT

H. KARAERUA. MALEREA. MALIUC. NAKOW. NALANTo TUNGUA. YOLDU

1. The Chairman resumed tho mooting at 9.05a=mo continuing with Itom 7 on tho Agenda - Election of Elocteral Committoe, Ho presented a new working paper RA3/ldP/3 Rov.2 (ANNEX 1).

2„ Father LEYMANG proposod that the new paper bo put to tho voto.

3. Chief i'linistor seconded tho proposal.

Tho Chairman put it to tho voto and it was carriod unanimously with31 votoB in favour.

4. Tho Chairman then movod to Itom 2 on tho Agenda which is tho final item - Election of Special and Gonoral Committees <> He called for nominations to tho General Committco.

5. Minister KALPOKAS suggestod that Special Committee bo olectod first bocausc tho two Chairman of the Special Committoos automatically bocomo mombors of tho Gonoral Committee.

6. Tho Chairman agrood and called for nominations to tho Public Accounts Committoo»

7» Minister KALSAKAU nominated Mr BOULEKONE as Chairman.

So Ministor KALPOKAS secondod it.

Mr BOULEKONE was olected unanimously with 31 votes in favour

- 2 - RA3/PV/9

9. Minister KALKOA nominatod Mr ROSLYN.

10. Ministor REGENVANU seconded it.

11. Chief Minister nominatod Mr LOUGHMAN.

12. Mr VOCOR seconded it.

13. Minister WDREK nominatod Mr ANDENG.

14. Mr NAUPA seconded it.

15. Ministor KORISA nominatod Mr HARRIS,

16. Mr UIRA seconded it.

17. Ministor KALSAKAU nominatod Mr BULE.

10. Ministor SERU socondod it.

19. Ministor KALPOKAS nominatod Mr SIMEON.

20. Mr ROSLYN Becondod it.

Six mggbprp eloctod with 30 votes in favour and 1 abstontion.

21. Tho Chairman doclarod tho following eloctod to tho Public AccountsCommittoos

Messrs VN0AES

BOULEKONE ROSLYN LOUGHMAN ANDENG HARRIS BULE

Chairman

0. SIMEON

22. The Chairman thon called for nominations to tho Govornmont Budgets Committee.

23. Ministor SERU nominatod Mr HOPA as Chairman.

24. Pastor TARITONGA socondod it.

25. Ministor KALSAKAU nominatod Mr TAHI.

26. Mr OBED socondod it.

27. Ministor REGENVANU nominated Father LEYMANG.

2B. Ministor KORISA socondod it.

29. Father LEYMANG doclinod the nomination.

30. Minister KALSAKAU nominated Mr CARLOT.

3 RA3/PV/9

31. Ministor KALKOA socondod it.

32. Minister KALPOKAS nominated Mr TARILIU.

33. Mr SANDY socondod it.

34. Chief Minister nominatod Mr ANTAS,

35. Mr BULE socondod it.

36. Ministor KALKOA nominatod Pastor TARITONGA

37. Mr VOCOR socondod it.

36. Ministor KALKOA nominated Mr VIRA.

39. Chiof Ministor socondod it.

Sovon mombors wore oloctod unanimously with 31 votes in favour.

40. Tho Chairman declared tho following oloctod to the Government Budgets Committee:-

Messrs Pastor □ . HOPA Chairman0. TAHIFl. CARLOTK. TARILIUJ. ANTASPastor 3. TARITONGA□ . VIRA

41. The Chairman then called for nominations to tho General Committee.42. Minister KALSAKAU nominated Fir PREVOT.

43. Minister WDREK seconded it.

44. Minister REGENVANU nominated Fir OBED.

45. Pastor TARITONGA seconded it.

46. Ministor KALKOA nominated Mr SANDY.

47. Minister KALPOKAS socondod it.

40. Mr OBED nominated Mr ALBERT.

49. Minister REGENVANU seconded it.

50. Minister SERU nominated Mr VOCOR.

51. Mr SANDY seconded it.

52. Mr ANTAS nominated Mr NAMPAS.

53. Mr OBED seconded it.

4 RA3/PV/9

54. Tho Chairman doclarod nominations closed. Thorc woro to be six mombors oloctod by tho Houso and tho Chairman of tho two Special Committees

woro eloctod automatically.

Tho six members were oloctod unanimously with 31 votos in favour.

55. The Chairman than doclarod tho following mombors to bo members of

tho General Committoo:Mossrs Vo BDULEKUNE

Pastor J. HOPAKo OBEDGo PREVOTA. SANDYNo ALBERTK. VOCORGo NAMPAS

56. Minister REGENVANU asked if thoy wore to oloct a Chairman of the Gonoral Committee.

57. The Chairman explained that tho mombors of the Committoo would oloct thair own Chairman and Secretary.

5B. Tho Chairman said there had been somo comments especially from some Churches about tho adopting of tho pigs tusk as port of tho symbols of UANUATU. Ho said some churches objoctod to tho pigs tusk as it as against thoir roligious boliofs. Ho asked Minister KALKOA and Fathor LEYMANG to givo explanations as to why tho pigs tusk had boon adopted as a symbol of tho country.

59. Ministor KALKOA said it was true that the Constitution rospoctod all religious boliofs and freedom but ho said tho pigs tusk and namelo loaf making tho Emblem are very strong custom boliofs for tho groator part of thoso islands and the Constitution also says that custom must bo preserved and there was no bettor way than putting it in tho flag of tho country. Ho said the omblom had boon adopted by a majority of tho oloctod mombors representing tho people and now this flag and omblom must bo respected by all peoplos of this country irrespective of whether they aro a black man, white man, yollow man or rod man.

60. Father LEYMANG supported Minister KALKOA and spoko strongly against tho comments that had been made concerning tho flag and omblom. He said it was tho duty of the churchos to holp unify this country. Ho felt very strongly about receiving comments after tho cloctcd representatives of the poople had chosen tho flag. Ho said tho country had been dividod by

5 RA3/PV/9

Britain and Franco, dividod by languages, divided amongst tho islands and now that ono symbol had boon adopted for tho wholo of tho country it was tho duty of the churchos to holp unify all tho poople undor this one flag.

61• The Chairman said that tho decision has been takon by tho Assembly and the decisions of the Assembly aro final so now tho country is moving towards Independence and everyone must work to moko this day, that everyone is looking forward too, possible. He said tho Govornmont had adopted symbols from insido tho country, not from outside and it was now the duty of all tho people to unito under thoso symbols.

62. Mr ANDENG said he was ono of tho company who had mado objections. Hosaid that in the Solomons and Now Guinea tho pig is respected also butthey did not include it in thoir flag as tho New Hebridos has done. Hosaid it was only tho pigs tusk that his church tho Seventh Day Advontist objoctod to and ho wantod to know if there was not somo way that it could be takon off the flag. If it was not takon from tho flag then tho flag couldnot bo flown ovor thoir schools or ships and tho House should not bo surprisedif they haul up something else. He said he did not want to mako a separation botweon tho S.D.A. church and the Government of this country and hoped there was somo way of romoving tho tusk from the flag bocauso as this is against tho religion of his Church he must ask if thoy havo freodom for all. If all has boon done and cannot now bo altered it is alright but tho House must not bo surprisod if the S.D.A. do not carry this flag over thoir schools or ships.

63. Chiof Minister said the Assembly has taken a decision on the Emblom and it must stand. Ho said ho was vory sad that ono member of the Assombly now brings criticism aftor tho decision has boon taken. He was sure tho peoplo had hoard Mr ANDENG defending tho pigs tusk during discussions. He said that everyone doos not agroo with those signs, for example the peopleof tho Southern Islands don’t use namolo leaf for custom but thoy have accepted it in tho Emblom and this should be tho same for thoso few islands who do not respect tho pigs tusk. Ho said that tho Government hopes that thoS.D.A. church would soon accept tho flag as it is vory important to havo a sign which ovoryono is united undor. Ho said if they depond too much on all tho small difforcncoa thero are such as political, religious and custom beliefs, in tho future there would be no unity. This symbol ho said also moans the wealth and richness of tho country bocauso on all the franc coins now in use in this country thore are pigs tusks and ovoryono including the

6 RA3/PV/9

S.D.A. pooplo havo acceptod this. No ono has thrown tho money away. He romindod tho pooplo of tho colours in tho flag, tho yollow ropresonts tho light of tho Gospol and tho teachings of the church, tho groon represents tho islands and all that grows on thorn, tho black roprosonts tho culturo, traditions, customs and tho ground of tho country and tho rod represents unity because irtospoctive of tho colour of man’s skin his blood is tho samo as ovoryono also and all of thoso arc represented in the Emblem. Ho said ho know that a lot of people in tho S.D.A, church had voted the Vanuaaku Pati into Govornmont and of those pooplo ho asks them strongly as they havo accepted tho sign on the money to accept in the samo spirit the flag that thoir Government has accoptod.

64. Mr CARLOT askod if tho General Committee was going to discuss all the laws that wore originally tabled in this Session.

65. Tho Chairman said that tho motion dologating tho powor to tho General Committee to discuss thoso laws had been withdrawn. Ho said it was possible to set up an Ad Hoc Committee with legislative powers to pass those laws.

66. Minister KALKOA said that duo to tho arguments about only eight mombers deciding on tho laws needed for Independence the legislative list had been withdrawn and all laws will be presented to the Assembly for decision.

67. Minister KALPOKAS said that no specific powers had yet bean given to tho General Committeo as yet but it could bo done now or in the next Session.

69. Chief Ministor supported Ministor KALKOA and KALPOKAS.

69. Mr CARLOT thanked them and said ho forgot this was told to tho House before.

70. Mr LDUGHMAN askod the Govornmont about all the different flags flying in Santo and Tanna and now that tho country has adoptod ono flag what is going to bo done about them.

71. The Chairman oxplainod that tho flags Hr LOUGHMAN referred to wore simply flags of groups or parties such as tho flag of tho Vanuaaku Pati but there was only ono flag of tho country which has just now boon adoptod.

72. Ministor KALSAKAU Baid thoro was ono law which was urgently noodod and would it be possiblo to dolegate the powor to tho Gonoral Committee to pass it. This was the law to protect tho flag and coats of arms from commercial exploitation. If there is no protection anyono can havo those

- 7 - RA3/PV/9

mado and sell them.

73. Chief Minister said he thought this legislation is ready now and if the Assembly wanted to tako action on it now thon perhaps thero could be a small broak and thon tho law could be prasonted.

74. Tho Chairman said it is up to tho Assembly to mako a decision on this.

75. Mr NAUPA supported Minister KALSAKAU and said that whilo thoy were discussing tho flag in the Assembly tho Nasiko newspaper had already published it. Ho said it had obviously been given to the newspaper by e mombor of tho flag committoo. Ho thought there should also bo a secrecy law passed.

76. Minister KALKOA supported tho previous spoakors.

77. Minister KALPOKAS askod the Chairman if tho lews arc ready could tho Houso adjourn for a short period and thon introduce thorn or did ho consider that tho Session had gone long enough.

78. Tho Chairman said it was up to tho House to decide. Hg said it was possiblo to continue for the whole day.

79. Minister NAUPA askod if tho translation of tho law is ready.

00. Chiof Minister said ho did not think tho French translation wouldbe ready yet but ho thought it was only a short law.

81. Minister KALKOA said it could tako some time for the translation and suggostod that bocauso of tho largo list of laws to be passed perhaps tho Assembly could rcconvono soon for tho purposo of passing them.

82. Rr PREVOT said that Standing Orders say that Resolutions should be presented 30 days in advance. Ho said as far as protection was concarnod for tho flag etc, perhaps the Assembly could just say it is forbidden to print or sell or copy tho flag, coat of arms, omblem otc. until the law is approved.

83. Mr 0OULEKONE proposed that the Government givo notice to the public that a law will be passed in tho near futuro prohibiting the exploitation of tho symbols of this country, the flag, emblem, coat of arms otc, and tho law when passed will bo retroactive) from the timo tho flag was approvod by tho Assembly. This will give fair warning to poople.

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64. The Chairman acid that another way would bo to suspend Standing

Orders and pass the law now.

B5. Minister KALPOKAS said he thought that the Assembly should follow

Mr BOULEKONE*8 suggestion bocauso even if Standing Orders were suspended

it is doubtful if the law was ready now.

06. Minister KALSAKAU supported Mr BOULEKONE.

87. There wee then general discussion on Mr BOULEKONEfe suggestion

between Messrs Chairmen, BOULEKONE, Minister NAUPA, Chief Minister, Ministers

KALKOA and KALSAKAU?

88. The Chairman said it was generally egrood that it be left to thegovernment to carry out Mr BOULEKONE’ s suggestion.

B9. The Chairman then thanked all the translators and technicians

for their assistance during the Session and called on Minister KORISA

to say the closing prayer.

The Chairman declared the Session closed at 10.30a.m.

The Chairman

Pastor Frod K, TIMflKflTfi


ANNEX I TO RAJ/PV/9RAj/WP/j (Rev.2) Original: English

Explanatory Note


Article 91 of the Constitution says that the Electoral Committee

will have equal representation of all political groups. The Assembly

is therefore asked to accept the following as being political groups

for the purpose of Article 91

1. VANUAAKU PATI (V.P.)

2. FEDERAL PARTY/MODERATES (F.P/M)

The Assembly is further requested to resolve and agree that the

total membership of the Electoral Committee shall be twenty (20)•

There being two groups (2), the Assembly is further requested

to accept the following proposal with regard to representation by

each of the two (2) groups on the Electoral Committee:-

(a) V.P. would nominate ten (10) persons;

(b) F.P/M would nominate ten (10) persons.

WE RECOMMEND to the Electoral Committee to invite any social

groups, to participate and give their opinions.

The Assembly is hereby requested that tho names of the

nominees shall be submitted to the Chairman or Deputy Chairman by

the end of March,

CHAIRMAN


ANNEX II TO RA3/PV/921 FEBRUARY 1980

COMMITTEES OF REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

1. (a) GOVERNMENT BUDGETS COMMITTEE (?)

JACK T, HOPA ONNEYN TAHI MAXIME CARLOT KENNETH TARILIU JOLE ANTASJACK TARITONGA JUDAH VT RA

CHAIRMAN

1. (b) PUBLICS ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (7)

9 VINCENT BOULEKONE CHAIRMAN NORMAN ROSLYNJOHN LOUGHMANAMOS ANDENGEDWARD HARRISSAMUEL BULEJIMMY SIMEON

2. GENERAL COMMITTEE (8)

KEITH AISSEN OBED CHAIRMAN GUY MICHEL PREVOTALBERT SANDENANUA ALBERTKALMER VOCORGIDEON NAMPAS

?2S,EK0NE! AS CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES.uACK HOPA )

9

Documents

first extraordinary session for 1980 1j - Parliament of Vanuatu