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International agencies and nreLropolitan governnents who aid Pecific countries do so in
cash' equipment, and lhe provision of experLs and consultants. Although we appreciate these
efforts, my impression is that the regulations for aid imposed upori pacific societies are
geared towards the perpetuation of economic and political dependency. At finst glance, aid
procedules and regulations may not have implicaLions for the development of human resources
in the Pacific, but if one notes the number of aid agencies op"rating in the pacific today,
there is a notable increase in the last ten years wfricn does have- some implications for
economic and social developnrent and the realization of potentials in the pecific. Aid
agencies in fact play a key role in the development and realization of people pot,ential in Lhe
Pacific' although with the exception of only one or two countries in'the pacific there are
small indigenous concentrations of capital and resources suff iciently large to qerate
nationally' regionally, and internationally. The growth of international agencies has also
provided a market for international labour. There is no zuggestion at thij stage that this
cadre of personnel will be replaced by loeal expertise as ilencies' demands for minimum
viability standards . for aid programmes will continue to give international personnel
employment and tend to hinder the developnenl of potential pacific Islander expertise.
The system is also perpetuated by a srnall group' of elites at national level who show
little confidence in the skills and innovetions of [heir own people. If pacific Islander
expertise is used, it is usually at a lower level. Above them is the layer of international
personnel which does not give Pacifie countries independenee or equality in the operation of
their own development. Although aid agencies have a primary economic iunction they do play
an influential role in the life of Pacific communities. Perhaps a review to the approaches
towards the utilization of local manpower potential by both aid agencies and pacif ic
countries would result in a betten partnenship towards realistic and att-ainable programmes.
Pacif ic countries could then match their political freedom with economie ' anl social
independence and not be zubjeeted to reslrictive aid provisions which turn ou! to be no aid
at all. What in fact does happen is that Pacif ic islands become a labour market for
internati onal personnel.
Before leaving this issue, the last aspect I would like to deal with is the participation
of women in developmenL. The participation of women is seen by some as the fundamental
Proeess for the realization of certain values and goals tied to society's values themselves.
Their level of participation in the development process can also be seen a{r a useful guide in
order [o understand the kinds of changes taking place in society. Pacific countries differ in
their attitude towards women and this in turn affects the extent to which women are given
opportunities for edueation, [raining and employment.
For example, a small local study carried out at the University of the South pacific's
Extension Services reveels interesting sex ratio figures for Extension enrollments for Iggl
semester II. See Table 4.
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
Niue
Solomon Islands
Tmga
Tuvalu
Vanuetu
Weatern Samoa
TOTAL
TAB|I 4 - Sex ratio of USP extension enrollmentg
Male
No.
58
510
72
6
22
tI9
76
28
76
50
tol7
Vo
56
68
62
40
40
84
54
6t
75
5L
65
Female
No.
45
244
45
9
tt
22
66
l8
25
48
555
SOURCE: Dr. R. Treyvaud, USP, l98l.
%
tt4
,2
5g
6u
60
t6
46
t9
25
49
,5