Transcript
CHARLOT SALWAI: What we really want is to get everyone - we agree on which part of the consultation. But we know what is the problem and the reason why we want to undertake the review of the consultation. One of the main reasons is to address the political instability that has been affecting the country for so many years.
INDIRA STEWART: Is the opposition party quite supportive of some of the reform ideas that the government is pushing through or proposing?
CS: Well we're waiting for a consultation as we put on the table. They can share their opinions. I know that they have some opinions. I hope that we can get something better. The issue is we have to do something.
IS: So you're hopeful of the opposition coming in to agreement?
CS: Yes. Because the opposition know and many of the opposition are new members of parliament and they know that the wish of the people is that they are tired of changes of government and political instability. They want a stable government. That's the wish. I think that it's very important to legislate political parties.
IS: Right, so that's creating a new legislation?
CS: Yes. But we have to put some mechanisms in the constitution, some provisions that can allow to do legislation on political parties.
IS: One of the proposed reforms is reserved seats for women in parliament, how does the Vanuatu society in general feel about that?
CS: Well again it's part of legislation on political parties and we'll put some mechanisms in the constitution, or provisions, and we can regulate the political parties to allow that they can run women.
IS: In terms of the general response from the community though and the population, are they quite supportive of that?
CS: Well you know that depends if the population lives in rural areas. Many are very attached to their cultures and traditions and women in tradition do not have a leaders role. But today I think we've progressed a little bit because today you can find headmasters and even in health centres, you have a nursing judge who is a woman. And even the chiefs that have girls that are studying. We have to recognise that we can have a role that can contribute to women in the country. I think slowly they will...we started already at municipal level. I did it when I was Minister of Internal Affairs and in one of our municipality in Luganville, we have five women councillors.
