Page 12 - IB MAR 2019

Political Brief - PACIFIC

FSM gets new President man, David Panuelo by a narrow margin.
This means that when Congress meets in May, a new President
and Vice President will be selected from amongst the winners
THE Federated States of Micronesia will have a new President, of the four at-large seats.
after the incumbent , Peter Christian lost his seat to Congress Panuelo has been in Congess since May 2011. Prior to that,
he was the Assistant Secretary for American and European
Affairs in FSM’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
FSM voters chose their candidates for the 14-member parlia-
ment in the March 5 vote. 30 candidates contested the poll to
become lawmakers in the FSM’s one house.
FSM’s national elections operate under “first past the post”
rules, that is, whoever has the most votes wins. The president
and vice president are elected by the Congress from among
four at-large senators. Vacant seats as a result of presidential
and vice-presidential elections are then reopened for a special
election.
In addition to the voting of the FSM’s elected representa-
tives, all voters were asked to voice their opinion on whether
the FSM should hold a Constitutional Convention. Under FSM
law, every ten years this referendum reappears and 75 percent
of the population in 75 percent of the FSM states must consent
for such a convention to occur. It appears that while Kosrae and
Pohnpei voted for a referendum, in Chuuk and Yap, ‘no’ votes
were in the majority.
Issues in the leadup to the polls included ongoing financial
provisions under the Compact of Free Association with the
United States which is due to end in 2023, high-level bribery
allegations, relief for areas affected by Tropical Storm Wutip,
Successful FSM candidate, David Panuelo (second from left) with supporters.
Photo: Facebook and employment and labour issues.
Vanuatu and France butt heads over islands negotiators heart. Vanuatu’s government made oral submissions
THE extended dispute between Vanuatu and France over on the case at the request of Mauritius’ government, which laid
sovereignty of the Matthew and Hunter Islands was inflamed claim to the Islands.
this month when France allegedly carried out a mission on the
island. Local media reported that Vanuatu’s Foreign Affairs and What’s in a name?
External Trade Minister, Ralph Regenvanu expressed the govern- The debate in Cook Islands for a national name change has
ment’s displeasure to the Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy been reinvigorated, with the country’s government giving the
after the Armed Forces Surveillance Frigate Vendémiaire (FANC) efforts tentative support. Proponents for a change want to end
recently carried out a mission on the islands of Matthew and the association with British explorer Captain James Cook and
Hunter to “restore the marks of French sovereignty”. Personnel replace the nation’s name with something more connected to
from the frigate reportedly polished a plaque erected in 1975 by their indigenous culture. Tribal leader Pa Marie Ariki led a com-
the navy and painted the French flag on a rock. Vanuatu’s Daily mittee meeting in January which pushed for the change and is
Post quoted Regenvanu as saying: “The negotiation to determine now considering 60 possible choices submitted from the public.
our maritime boundaries is underway and France is well aware These names are inspired by Maori heritage, Christianity and
of our position over the islands, yet they did not even ask us. national pride according to local media. “The goal is to submit
They came and acted as if they own the two islands.” The the top contender to the government by April – something which
Affairs Minister says France has delayed negotiations over the is “easy to say”, the head of the name change committee, Danny
boundaries and his government wanted them to resume this Mataroa told Radio New Zealand. “It must have a taste of our
month in the Pacific region. Vanuatu raised its own flag on Christian faith, and a big say on our Maori heritage. And it must
Hunter Island 36 years ago. Meanwhile Vanuatu MP, Johnny instil a sense of pride in our people and unite our people.” The
Koanapo says the country hasn’t lost faith in the negotiations, opposition Cook Islands Democratic Party believes voters are split
although France’s latest action has complicated them. Kaonapo, on the issue. Cook Islands citizens voted against a name change
who led Vanuatu’s negotiating team, told Radio New Zealand: in a 1999 referendum.
“We, the people of Vanuatu, will not take this lightly. We are very
concerned, and we want France to give a proper explanation.” Power and language in Wallis and Futuna
Vanuatu says the islands have cultural and ceremonial importance France’s overseas minister says it’s up to Wallis and Futuna to
to its people. Vanuatu’s claim has support in the region, includ- decide if it wants to press for the transfer of executive power from
ing from New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS movement. the French-appointed prefect to the local assembly.
France annexed the islands east of New Caledonia and south-east Minister Annick Girardin made this comment during her five-day
of Vanuatu in 1976 - four years before Vanuatu became indepen- visit to the territory in early March. Radio New Zealand quotes
dent of both Britain and France. However a recent International assembly present David Verge as saying that reforms should be
Court of Justice ruling that Britain’s administration of the Chagos progressive and with the support of all political forces. The dis-
Islands (in the Indian Ocean) was unlawful, has given Vanuatu cussion comes as a new political party, Pacific Awakening, has

12 Islands Business, March 2019