Land and Justice Party

Political party in Vanuatu
Politics of Vanuatu
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The Land and Justice Party (Bislama: Graon mo Jastis Pati; GJP)[2] is a traditionalist, pro-indigenous and pro-youth political party in Vanuatu. The party was launched on 11 November 2010 and is led by MP Ralph Regenvanu.[3]

The party aims to produce a generational change in Vanuatu's leadership and is concerned about foreign ownership of businesses.[4] Upon launching the party, Regenvanu–a popular, young and independent Member of Parliament–reportedly described chiefs, churches, women and youth as the four solid legs of the party. He also stated that prospective GJP candidates for parliamentary election would be "severely tested on their record of community service", to ensure that all GJP MPs were committed to defending the public interest.[2]

Subsequently, Regenvanu said his party advocated against people selling their land to investors and thereby depriving their children and descendants of that asset. It also supported a greater use of the customary judicial system, where chiefs act as mediators, rather than the "Western" system, which Regenvanu said often implied significant financial costs for litigants (see the article on the law of Vanuatu).[5]

A month after launching the party, Regenvanu was appointed Minister of Cooperatives and ni-Vanuatu Business Development in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Sato Kilman.[6][7]

The party obtained four seats in Parliament in the October 2012 general election, the first national election it contested.[8] Regenvanu was subsequently appointed Minister for Lands in the government headed by his ally Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil (of the Green Confederation). As Minister for Lands, Regenvanu -who described himself as a “notorious critic” of free trade and foreign ownership of lands[9]- introduced a proposal whereby land leases would necessarily be examined by a committee, thus depriving the ministry itself of the power to lease lands without any external controls. This was a response to alleged acts of corruption carried out by previous ministers. This unprecedented reform was described as part of Regenvanu's ongoing measures against corruption. More generally, his proposals sought to "untangle a whole series of obscure rules on customary landownership", and provide clarity to landowners.[10]

In the February 2013 provincial election, the party's Willie Fred Tasso won the presidency of the Malampa Province Provincial Government Council.[11] The party currently participates in the government of Moana Carcasses.

The party was reportedly the first ever to field a candidate with a disability in any election in Vanuatu, when wheelchair user Arthur Simrai stood in the municipal election in Port Vila in November 2013.[12] Regenvanu indicated that the party wished to push, in particular, for buildings to be better equipped for wheelchair access.[13]

in the 2016 election the GJP won 7 seats, becoming the largest party and joining Charlot Salwai government coalition.[14] The party retained its position as biggest party also in the 2020 election gaining two more seats, but it was relegated to the opposition of Bob Loughman's government.[15]

Following Loughman's decision to call for a snap election in August 2022, the GJP joined forces with Laughman's former deputy PM, Ishmael Kalsakau and in the aftermath of the election Kalsakau was appointed Prime Minister with GJP's support.[16]

Election results

Parliament
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Government
2012 Ralph Regenvanu 7,241 6.02 (#5)
4 / 52
 New Coalition
2016 8,376 7.41 (#3)
7 / 52
 Increase 3 Coalition
2020 14,400 10.00 (#4)
9 / 52
 Increase 2 Opposition
2022 10,183 7.70 (#4)
4 / 52
 Decrease 3 Coalition

References

  1. ^ McDonnell and Regenvanu. "Decolonization as practice: returning land to Indigenous control". AlterNative. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b "POLITICS: New party for 'MP Ralph'" Archived 2011-03-27 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business, December 2010
  3. ^ "Vanuatu new political party seeks to install 'good' leaders". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-11-11. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  4. ^ "Regenvanu to launch new Vanuatu political party". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  5. ^ "Land and justice key for good life: Regenvanu", Vanuatu Daily Post, July 5, 2011
  6. ^ Cabinet of Vanuatu Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, CIA, December 20, 2010
  7. ^ "New govt"[permanent dead link], Vanuatu Daily Post, December 7, 2010
  8. ^ "Coalition builder game" Archived 2013-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Pacific Institute of Public Policy, 6 November 2012
  9. ^ "Vanuatu minister calls for 'enshrining' of custom land tenure to protect Pacific", Pacific Scoop, 23 April 2013
  10. ^ "Les réformes foncières préoccupent le Vanuatu", Radio Australia, 18 October 2013
  11. ^ "Vanuatu opposition makes gains in provincial elections", Radio New Zealand International, 1 March 2013
  12. ^ "Disabled candidate in a first for Vanuatu's municipal elections", Radio Australia, 31 October 2013
  13. ^ "First ever person with disability to contest an election in Vanuatu", Vanuatu Daily Post, 21 October 2013
  14. ^ "New Govt committed to change, announces Cabinet" Archived 11 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Vanuatu Daily Digest, 12 February 2016
  15. ^ Vanuatu's new PM appoints his new Cabinet Radio New Zealand, 21 April 2020
  16. ^ Manassah, Kiery (11 November 2022). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau's opportunity to write his own story". DevPolicy Blog. Retrieved 11 December 2022.