Surprising no one, Vanuatu’s Electoral College failed to achieve the required supermajority in yesterday’s meeting to elect a new President. Perhaps the only interesting result was that Chief Vincent Boulekone received the most votes (albeit well short of anything approaching the magic number). Chief Boulekone, one of the drafters of Vanuatu’s Constitution, has been actively engaged in public life since Independence.
Who Wants a Woman President?
Aug 29
It’s pretty common knowledge that UMP leader Serge Vohor rarely acts without something to motivate him. His level of commitment to the actual election of a woman as head of state is probably best indicated by his canny decision to get two women to contest, virtually guaranteeing a split vote among the few who might conceivably be convinced to support the idea.
So what - or, more to the point, who - is behind this sudden buzz of interest in a female President?
The following just got posted to the VIGNET mailing list:
12pm today CANDIDATE VOTES Bakoa Kaltongga (VP) 1485 Kalsakau Steven (UMP) 1039 Alfred R Carlot (VRP) 984 Jimmy Luna Tasong (IND) 938 Joshua Tafura Kalsakau (VLP) 916 Kalmele Matai (VP) 791 Barak Tame Sope Mautamate (MPP) 780 Roro Sambo (Alliance) 685 Pastor William Malas (NCAP) 573 Andrew Samuel (TKP) 449 Ephraim Kalsakau (IND) 336 Eric Pakoa Marakiwola (IND) 217 Harry Man Kalsong (VDPP) 213 Lily Lui (IND) 175 Warewo Rave Chilia (NUP) 137 Jean Pierre Serel (IND) 107 Kaltang Joel (Alliance) 84 Hendon Kalsakau (IND) 41 Total Registered Voters: 21282 Votes Cast: 9950 Turn Out %: 46.75
These numbers are UNofficial. We reserve the right to be wrong in every regard.
Free - New Media and Society
Jul 25
The philosophy of Free on the Internet meshes nearly perfectly with some of the core tenets of community and kastom. Vanuatu, with its natural bounty, has long traded in a gift economy. Traditionally, a person’s rank in the community is measured in terms of the wealth they can bestow on others.
But how do we translate a decidedly rare resource like pigs into Internet terms? Wisdom, insight and information all fit the bill. Specialised knowledge, expert insight and that rarest of rarities, true wisdom will always be in short supply. By developing an online culture where this knowledge is shared and applied responsibly, we can transpose one of the most desirable aspects of real-world Vanuatu onto its virtual counterpart.