Aid direction questioned

Press, 28 August 1984, Page 4

Aid direction questioned

By

KEN COATES

in Funafuti

While New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Mr Lange, and other heads of State debated South Pacific Forum issues in Funafuti’s elegant conference centre, a few hundred metres away, a British aid volunteer teacher, Mr Geoff Kalicinski, questioned the direction of western aid- to miniisland States like Tuvalu. Much of the direction of aid is wrong, he asserts. Highly paid experts visit, jenerally once, and write earned reports. “Most do not try to reduce dependence on high technology imports,” he said.

Mr Kalicinski, aged 32, a Voluntary Service Overseas science and maths teacher at Motufoua Secondary School on the outer island of Vaitupu, said a wrong impression could be given by the capital, Funafuti. For example, funds have

been spent on over-capacity in power generation. It might have been better, however, to spend less on street lighting and more on hospital facilities. Mr Kalicinski, from London, has spent 2% years on Vaitupu where 25 children annually sit New Zealand School Certificate. Of the 16 who passed last year few have jobs and most have returned to the outer islands. Those who get scholarships for further training in the outside world are reluctant to return because of the lack of employment. While there are not enough local teachers, the Government likes “palagi” or white foreign teachers, as often they are funded by overseas aid. Island life is idyllic for visitors, but it is hard work for islanders just to get enough food on which to live. Mr Kalicinski said the South Pacific Forum was a

good showcase for Tuvalu but the national effort and scale of spending on it was huge. “It is draining on the people and on resources. It would be better, for example, if heads of State rode in mini-vans or pickups rather than the fleet of Australian limousines specially brought in for the two-day Forum. “At least the pick-ups would be useful later whereas the cars will be taken away again,” he said. The Englishman said he sounded like a Communist, but “I am actually quite Right-wing — I have little time for politicians posturing and having to be provided with cars because they are heads of State.” The President and Prime Minister of one Pacific country were demanding a car each, when they were staying at the same house, he said. Mr Kalicinski favoured

more emphasis on local self-help projects such as a European Economic Community funded water tank building scheme supervised by the Peace Corps. Boat access could be improved also to make it easy for people to fish. The Government agricultural station is valuable on Vaitupu “but people have to be persuaded to take advice about pigs and gardening,” he said. Coconut oil and soap is being made on the outer island, instead of shipping away raw material. What of Tuvalu’s future? Mr Kalicinski has no snap answer but said that many islanders did not want to change to an urban lifestyle. Many do want Western “fripperies” like stereo cassette players and imported food. “But it is not our decision — it is up to their leaders, and anyway, it is difficult for us to tell what the people want.”