Home

About Me

Pitcairn Islands Study Center

Pitcairn Islands Study Group (US)

Pitcairn Islands Producers Coop

New Friends of Pitcairn Group

Wikipedia Pitcairn Entry

Pitcairn Islands Tourism

# Verdict in Pitcairn.

While I won't condone the practice of initiating young girls into sex, I feel this case is morally ambiguous because of the local culture and particularly because it was an outside legal system which intervened to permanently disrupt the lives and alter the destiny of this handful of people living in an obscure corner of the world. Wish I understood more about the people and their mores to understand whether girls raised in a place where this was the norm are really victims of the local men--or victims of the people who have come there to tell them they are victims.

# In the last few days the Pitcairn Island Council met to put in place a new Mayor and Island Chairman. Deputy Governer Forbes presided over the council. The meeting itself was closed to the press and the public. During that meeting Brenda Lupton-Christian was appointed temporary mayor of Pitcairn Island and Jay Warren was appointed Island Chairman. Brenda's appointment is apparently temporary until elections are held next month.

Unfortunately it would seem that this action has caused some turmoil on Pitcairn and the mailing lists. There is much discussion going on about it. From what I've read the main issue seems to be that the appointment occurred in a closed meeting led by a British diplomat. There is apparently a local ordanance that restricts the position of Mayor to certain people (those that have lived on the Island for more than 21 years, etc) and some believe Brenda does not qualify thus the appointment breaks that law.

Hopefully come the public elections in December, democratically elected officals, selected by the Islanders themselves, will be put in place. It may well be the same people who are elected but at least all the Islanders will know that it was not done behind closed doors.

I've not found any coverage in the mainstream media about this issue and would welcome any submissions providing more information or clarifying the matter.

# There will be a 'Bounty Day' celebration in Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand on the Saturday 22nd January 2005 to Sunday 23rd January 2005. See the flyer here.

# Paul Garnett will be at the Bounty Pitcairn conference to display his work and give a presentation. His paintings are very impressive!

# Unfortunately my internet access has been intermittent, hence the lack of news and the reason I haven't replied to any emails lately. Service should be back to normal now...