30 Jun 2005

French Polynesia's GIP wants new contracts

8:27 pm on 30 June 2005

The GIP force in French Polynesia, which blockaded the territory's main port twice this year, says it wants to see the contracts of more than 200 of its members renewed by the end of August.

A spokesman for the GIP, Rere Puputauki, has told local television that if there is no agreement with the government, there will be unprecedented strikes and blockades.

The GIP, which was formed as a disaster relief unit in the 1990's ste was expanded to almost 1,300 members by the former government late last year.

It rebelled against the new government of Oscar Temaru and closed the main port in Tahiti after he had appointed an advisor, Robert Maker, as the new GIP boss.

Under a deal brokered and guaranteed by the French state in April, Mr Puputauki's deputy became the interim GIP head while a government-appointed lawyer, Christiane Athane was to be given access to all GIP files for its restructure.

Her review period ends next week and a new GIP head is to be chosen.