In a male dominated arena a special commendation needs to given to any woman brave enough to enter the blood thirsty battle field of politics. It is great to see Ms Hilary Clinton once more in the headlines, now backing Barack Obama.
On a tropical island in Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, a world away, another woman faces unbelievable odds. From an unexpected source Mrs Jenny Ligo is being put under pressure.
Following her famous Aunt's footsteps, Jenny was granted a chiefly title earlier this year, by the head of the National Councils of Chiefs, Chief Paul Tahi.
As a symbol of good luck and well wishing, Jenny was liberally dusted with baby powder. No one knows where this custom arose from, but beware if you are an honored guest in Vanuatu. You will also be smothered with baby powder.
In order for Jenny to enter the brutal field of politics, she had to ceremoniously kill eleven pigs.
Late last year during her wedding to Joe Ligo, Jenny also ceremoniously killed eleven pigs.
28 years ago, after the nation’s independence, the political and women’s rights activist, Mrs Grace Molisa became the first woman to hold the position of Private Secretary to the country’s first Prime Minister, late Father Walter Lini.
Jenny is the niece of Grace Molisa.
Mrs Ligo has returned to her home island of Ambae, since the general election is only weeks away. All should have been plain sailing for this courageous lady, as she tours most parts of the island. Wrong!
Chief Moli Tari, speaking on behalf of some of the chiefs of Ambae, says that Jenny is not allowed to contest in her home island, according to island custom principles. Strange how this principle never floated to the surface earlier this year, when the pig killing ceremony took place. Perhaps the ancient custom principles of the island change from day to day?
Because of her marriage to Joe Ligo on another island, Pentecost, Chief Moli has told Jenny she can only contest the Ambae constituency on one condition. She must perform a custom ceremony presentation to the chiefs, with 10 tusked pigs.
It doesn’t sound that hard, until you discover the real value of 10 tusked pigs. In Vanuatu, you just can’t walk into a sales yard and buy them. Especially if the pigs are of reasonable size and age, with good curled tusks.
Pig tusks are the wealth of every village and are one of their highly valuable possessions. They are real currency in Vanuatu.The Tari Buri Bank, headed by Chief Viraleo, has what they believe to be nearly $ 1 billion in collateral, in pig tusks, in their fourteen branches.The bank has reserves, accounts, cheque books and tight security. Most of the security is done by the spirits and snakes, however. The bank offers mortgages, as well as easy credit and pays a handsome 15%interest.
In some places women frequently pay school fees with pig tusks. Often the tusks are still joined to the skull of the dead pig. If not for this provision, many more children would never have the opportunity to go to school, in a society where many villagers live on under $1 a day. This is not a problem where the land provides much of the needs of the people.
Pigs, have their top teeth knocked out, so the bottom teeth will grow into the highly prized curled tusk. For the rest of their life they have to be hand fed. The older the pig, the better the curl, up to the very rare three curled tusk. The pig is tethered and kept in semi captivity, so as to prevent the tusk from breaking or suffer from damage.
Where does Mrs Ligo bargain for the 10 valuable pigs she may have to pay to Chief Moli and his group? Particularly as Chief Moli is not actually living on the island of Ambae. Jenny may have to present the pigs on the island of Ambae, or to the chiefs living on the distant island of Santo. Will the pigs be flown to the island?
Two more chiefs stir the pot as they also step into the political arena. Chief Pascal Sese from Lolopuepue and Chief Benwel Garae come from North Ambae and the second highest chiefly system of Mambuhangvulu. This is the tribe to which Jenny belongs.
The chiefs told the local newspaper in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu that, the call made by Chief Moli is childish and has no substance. “If Chief Moli lived on Ambae he would not question Mrs Ligo’s right to participate in the political environment.”
For some unknown reason, Chief Moli is unavailable to meet face to face with Jenny.
Jenny is the kind of candidate who can change the education situation where there is no free education. As a mother, and gently spoken woman, Jenny has a real heart for the next generation. We have full confidence that the former chairwoman for the Vanuatu National Council of Women has what she needs to contest this upcoming election.
We have full confidence in the strongly determined, former chairwoman for the Vanuatu National Council of Women. She has what is needed to contest this election. As a mother, and gently spoken woman, Jenny has a real heart for the next generation. She is the kind of candidate who can alter the education condition in Vanuatu, where education is not free.
If women like Jenny are in the seat of government, there is greater hope that charities like YouMe Support Foundation will get an even stronger edge on helping children from these isolated communities. Children who will never see the inside of a high school classroom without help from outside.
Children who rely on a once in a lifetime Blue Moon Opportunity to provide them with funds for non-repayable high school education grants.
You need to take a few minutes to check this Blue Moon Opportunity out. It could be the means of making your dreams come true.
