The Political Scene of Vanuatu Has Not Settled Yet
The position of Prime Minister has not yet been settled in Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. Emotions still run high behind closed doors and in the Nakamals. Even in the lower arenas of the political scene emotions are boiling over boiling over as would-be politicians come face to face with their failure to be reelected.
Two weeks have passed since the voters went to the polls in Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. The position of Prime Minister is yet to be decided, as controversy rages behind closed doors and in the Nakamals (local kava bars). The political parties jostle for position as they struggle to form a coalition government. However, emotions are also heated at lesser levels of the political scene.
On Tuesday 16th September, the celebration day for Penama province, a small group of tropical islands in Vanuatu, a peace ceremony was performed. It had been alleged that the unsuccessful candidate in the recent elections, Chief Molbarab, had been counting on votes from the Vanuatu Agricultural and Technical Centre. When the votes did not come through as expected, tension was quickly created between Chief’s Molbarab’s family and the Centre. It was alleged the Chief would place namele leaves at the entrance to the centre, effectively closing it down.
Namele leaves, from the palm known as the Chief's Palm, pose a very real deterrent in the culture of Vanuatu. If two leaves are crossed over and placed at the door of any place of business, the staff will bluntly refuse to enter that property. The business has no choice but to cease to run, until such time as the problem is solved.
Namele leaves are shown as a peace sign on the Vanuatu flag, along with pig tusks, a symbol of wealth. However Namele leaves are also used as a very strong emblem of taboo. If a senior person or family in a village feel they have an ownership to a particular fruiting tree, all they need to do is to hang a namele leaf on the trunk. Should anyone dare to take the fruit, they will be liable to a fine, imposed on them by the chief of the village.
Two weeks ago, namele leaves were crossed over at the entrance to a dental clinic. Even though patients turned up for their appointment, the clinic was forced to remain closed until such time as the dispute was cleared up.
In a dispute over the illegal use of some land as a village garden, the chief owning the property placed several sets of crossed namele leaves around the property, then killed a pig over the top of the leaves, in order to make the magic of the leaves even stronger. The offenders were ordered by the chief, to pay one pig each, for wrongful use of the land. When the six offenders refused to obey custom law, they were hauled into white man’s court and ended up being banned from using the land, forced to pay the full court costs for the defendant, plus still owing the chief a pig each.
It is hoped that there will be no more need for peace ceremonies, or the threat of crossed namele leaves before the political scene in Vanuatu returns to some semblance of peace.
About the Author
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO’s of YouMe Support Foundation, Vanuatu, (http://youmesupport.org) providing high school education grants through a Blue Moon Opportunity. You can really help make a difference in some great kids' lives. Take a few minutes to check it out http://winaresort.com.
On Tuesday 16th September, the celebration day for Penama province, a small group of tropical islands in Vanuatu, a peace ceremony was performed. It had been alleged that the unsuccessful candidate in the recent elections, Chief Molbarab, had been counting on votes from the Vanuatu Agricultural and Technical Centre. When the votes did not come through as expected, tension was quickly created between Chief’s Molbarab’s family and the Centre. It was alleged the Chief would place namele leaves at the entrance to the centre, effectively closing it down.
Namele leaves, from the palm known as the Chief's Palm, pose a very real deterrent in the culture of Vanuatu. If two leaves are crossed over and placed at the door of any place of business, the staff will bluntly refuse to enter that property. The business has no choice but to cease to run, until such time as the problem is solved.
Namele leaves are shown as a peace sign on the Vanuatu flag, along with pig tusks, a symbol of wealth. However Namele leaves are also used as a very strong emblem of taboo. If a senior person or family in a village feel they have an ownership to a particular fruiting tree, all they need to do is to hang a namele leaf on the trunk. Should anyone dare to take the fruit, they will be liable to a fine, imposed on them by the chief of the village.
Two weeks ago, namele leaves were crossed over at the entrance to a dental clinic. Even though patients turned up for their appointment, the clinic was forced to remain closed until such time as the dispute was cleared up.
In a dispute over the illegal use of some land as a village garden, the chief owning the property placed several sets of crossed namele leaves around the property, then killed a pig over the top of the leaves, in order to make the magic of the leaves even stronger. The offenders were ordered by the chief, to pay one pig each, for wrongful use of the land. When the six offenders refused to obey custom law, they were hauled into white man’s court and ended up being banned from using the land, forced to pay the full court costs for the defendant, plus still owing the chief a pig each.
It is hoped that there will be no more need for peace ceremonies, or the threat of crossed namele leaves before the political scene in Vanuatu returns to some semblance of peace.
About the Author
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO’s of YouMe Support Foundation, Vanuatu, (http://youmesupport.org) providing high school education grants through a Blue Moon Opportunity. You can really help make a difference in some great kids' lives. Take a few minutes to check it out http://winaresort.com.
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