14 Nov 2002

Calls for change of New Caledonian government system

5:26 pm on 14 November 2002

There has been a call in New Caledonia to change the government system after Wednesday's collapse of the collegial administration.

A minister of the pro-independence Caledonian Union resigned following disagreements with the main anti-independence RPCR party - a move which under New Caledonia's organic law automatically results in the dissolution of the government.

The leader of the National Front, Guy George, told local RFO radio that such a system of government is unmanageable and needs to be changed.

"I think that a single member of the government who belongs to a minority who can endanger the New Caledonian institutions that is dramatic."

Meanwhile, the vice-president, Dewe Gorodey, says although she has been boycotting a move of the government to premises closed to the RPCR, she wanted to serve out her term.

She told RFO radio that she doesn't agree with the Caledonian Union.

In fact, this is a decision I'm diametrically opposed to. I want to remind you that at the first news conference held after the move of the government offices to the annex of the southern province, I said that in the remaining 18 months I had no plan to resign, on the contrary to continue my work.