IN THE EFATE ISLAND COURT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil Case No. 01 of 2002.

BETWEEN

CHIEF WAYA TENENE
of Erakor village, South Efate.
Original Claimant

AND:

SUAL KALMARIE
of Erakor village South Efate.
First Cross Claimant

AND:

KALMETABIL KALMET NMAK
of Erakor village, South Efate.
Second Cross Claimant

Coram: Justice Esron MANAPANGA
Justice Makal KALSONG
Justice Anne CARLO

Clerks: Shemi JOEL
Blandine TEPI

JUDGMENT

Long matter blong Section 10 blong Efate Island Court ACT [CAP 167] mo hemi matter blong Chiefly Title Dispute blong Erakor village long South Efate.

Efate Island Kot hemi sitdaon blong harem kes ia start long 15th of July 2002 mo proceed igo kasem today we kes ia hemi complete. Supreme court hemi bin orderem Island Kot blong mas harem kes ia, nao iaot linem sam issue blong Island Kot imas ansarem long Judgment ia blong talemaot se who nao hemi stret man we ientitle blong tekem position blong chief blong Erakor.

1ST CLAIMANT – WAYA TENENE 

Long kes blong Waya Tenene olsem first claimant blong kes ia, hemi bin givem Testimony blong hem mo sapotem wetem affidavit blong hem wei attachem wetem wan Family tree, we isoem olsem wanem nao hemi claim chiefly title blong Erakor.

Long affidavit blong hem olsem first mo original claimant long kes ia, Chief Waya Tenene, hemi tokabaot se hemi kamaot long line blong woman we bloodline blong man nao igivim raet ia long hem. Hemi talemaot too long Court se papa blong hem Willy Wayane WATEK hemi blong Mare – New Caledonia.

Kot ia iconsiderem olgeta toktok mo harem hemi tokabaot olsem wanem nao hemi kam blong karem chiefly title ia long 1971. Hemi tokabaot we kasin brata blong hem Kalmasei nao hemi givim raet ia long hem blong karem. Hemi talemaot long statement blong hem se hemi no bin wantem be from se stret bloodline blong man nao igivim raet ia long hem nao imekem se hemi tekem. 

Hemia hemi histri blong hem folem statement mo family tree.

Chief Nmak Kalsaur imaretem Mbes mo tufala igat ol pikinini mo wan gel blong hem, hemi Melian and Melian imaret wetem Salsal. Salsal mo Melian tufala igat first born 1 girl we hemi Toutatak and Toutatak imaret wetem Tenene nao tufafa igat Waya  we hemi 3rd born pikinini mo hemi Paramount chief blong Erakor nao ia. 

Matai hemi bin chief long early 1950’s and Charley Kalmet hemi bin Assistant Chief. Kalmasei nao ishould become chief long 1971, olsem we hem nao ikamaot stret long bloodline blong man. Papa blong hem hemi Thomas we first boy blong Chief Kalomtak. After long nomination blong Kalmasei long 1971  hem, Waya Tenene, nao ikam chief mo Arthur Matai ikam Assistant Chief. Tufala ikam jif olsem wanem.

Long case blong Waya Tenene, oli talem se Kaluat Thomas Kalomtak nao hemi oldest surviving man long saed blong bloodline blong man. So hem nao ishould kam niu Jif. Folem Family tree blong Waya Tenene only saed blong man blong Kalomtak hemi Kaluat Thomas Kalomtak. Long family tree ia igat wan man nomo we hemi Kalomtak, be from we case hemi stap between Waya Tenene, Sual Kalmari mo Kametabil Kalmet Nmak, Hemi duti blong court ia blong comparem olgeta toktok mo right blong wanwan claimant long kes ia. Kes blong Waya Tenene icontinue, mo igat faev witnesses we olgeta ikam justify wetem saporting statement blong olgeta. Igat:

1. Arthur Matai 
2. Kaluat Thomas 
3. Glan August 
4. John Kaluat 
5. Rosa Kalsakau 

First Witness – Arthur Matai

Arthur Matai hemi confirmem long Kot se Chief Waya Tenene hemi gat bloodline long saed blong woman true long chief Nmak Kalsaur. Mo hemi tokabaot lelebet olsem wanem nao hem Arthur Mantai irelate igo long Chief Nmak.

2nd Witness - Kaluat Thomas

Hemi confirmem long Kot bageken se Waya Tenene hemi kamaot long saed blong woman, folem statement blong hem hemi stap tokabaot nomo olsem wanem hemi relate igo kasem chief Nmak true long bloodline blong man.

3rd Glan August

Long statement blong hem, hemi stap refer mo tokabaot olsen wanem hemi relate I go kasem Chief Nmak. Hemi stap sapotem strong Waya Tenene mo talem bagegen se hemi karem title ia true long women.

4th John Kaluat

John hemi tokabaot family tree blong hem mo italem olsem wanem hemi relate igo kasem Chief Nmak Kalsaur. Be hemi still sapotem se Chief Waya Tenene hemi karem title ia true long women bloodline.

5th Rosa Kalsakau 

Hemi tokabaot olsem wanem hemi tokabaot hemi kamaot long stret bloodline blong man. Be hemi still biliv mo pruvum se Chief Waya Tenene hemi kamaot long site blong women.

Long everi witnesses, statement blong olgeta, oli mentionem fasin blong respectem wan hae chief long vilij, mo kastom fasin blong handem ova title igo long wan stret man. In fact olgeta itokabaot fasin blong handem ova chiefly title ia . Fasin blong ordination we imas be respected and witness by Vaturisu Kaunsel blong Jif hemi wan samting tu we olgeta witness itokabaot. 

Olgeta itokabaot tu olsem wanem Missionary ikam mo jenesim olgeta fasin ia mo mekem se olgeta inomo folem hemia blong appointem wan niu Jif mo replacement blong olfala Jif tru long kastom fasin.

1ST CROSS CLAIMANT – SUAL KALMARI

Long statement mo family tree blong chief Sual Kalmari, hemi soem mo talem aot se Chief Nmak Kalsaur hemi kat wan girl nomo we hemi Serei (Hemi takem nem blong mama blong hem. Serei hemi mared wetem chief Kalkaot mo tufala igat first born boy blong tufala we hemi Jonathan Kalrongo. Jonathan, hemi mared wetem Leisong Atamin mo tufala ikat first born blong tufala we hemi Anitre. Anitre hemi maretem Maria mo tufala igat first bon blong tufala we hemi kalmari. Kalmari i maret wetem Toutuel mo tufala ikat 3 boy we third born blong tufala nao hemi Sual Kalmari olsem first cross claimant insaed long kes ia. Folem olgeta famili tree ia, isoem iklia nomo se Chief Sual Kalmari we oli bin putum hemi jif samtaem long 12th February, 2002 hemi kamaot long bloodline blong woman.

Long cross examination, claimant No. 2 hemi talemaot long Kot se hem iclaim folem bloodline blong woman. Even claimant No. 2 hemi no helpem Kot nating blong completem case blong hem. Claimant No. 2 hemi no ansarem every kwestin we tufala narafala party iaskem. Long saed blong claimant No. 2 hem igat 8 witness every wan. I gat:-

1. Samuel kalmari
2. Peris kalo
3. Kaloruk Lalye
4. Jack Kallon
5. Louis Carlot
6. Taler Daniel Kaltapao
7. Berry Kalfen mo
8. Malachai Russel.

1st Witness - Samuel Kalmari 

Long kes blong Samuel Kalmari, hemi sapotem family tree blong Sual Kalmari mo talem hemi kamaot bageken we olgeta ikamaot long generation No. 6. Hemi talem aot bageken we olgeta ikamaot long family bloodline blong woman we hemi Sere (Litong) mo hem nao hemi girl blong Jif. Hemi talem se Jif Sual oli bin jusum hem nomo blong kam Jif by the people of Erakor.

2nd Witness – Peris Kalopong 

Witness ia hemi mekem toktok blong hem mo talem se hemi agri wetem affidavit blong Sual Kalmarie. Long cross-examination hem (witness) hemi stap tokabaot wan  paramount chief we olgeta iclaim oli kam from mo hemi NAMAK APISAI mo nara nem blong hem hemi KALRONGO. Witness ia ino tokabaot nating olsem wanem Sual Kalmari hemi relate igo kasem Jif NMAK.

3rd Witness – Kaloruk Lalie 

Witness ia hemi tokabaot we Jif NMAK hemi gat 3 pikinini boy we oli Kalomtak, Kalmetasbil, mo Kalfabun. Witness ia hemi tokabaot we hemi kamaot long Thomas we hemi boy blong Kalomtak. Witness hemi talem bageken se Jif Nmak hemi semak we hemi Kalsau. Witness hemi agree long family tree blong Sual Kalmari mo confirmem tru long cross-examination se Sual Kalmari olgeta ikamaot long saed blong woman. 

4th Witness – Jack Kalon

Long toktok blong witness ia, Kot ia hemi rejectem olgeta evidence we ikamaot.  Olgeta toktok blong hem ino gat proof long hem blong talem se Kalmetabil ikam long Pango mo talem se Melian girl blong Jif Nmak. Witness ia hemi talem bageken long cross-examination se Kalomtak brata blong hem hemi Kalmetabil Nmak. Witness hemi bin stap wetem Kametabil olsem wan party. Witness hemi confirmem se Sual hemi kam long Samoa.

5th Witness – Louis Carlot

Hemi talem se hemi kamaot long Melan we hemi bloodline blong woman. Hemi sapotem Sual Kalmari’s affidavit mo family tree. Hemi ino givim any toktok blong sapotem storian blong Sual Kalmari.

6th Witness – Taler Daniel Kaltapoa

Hemi sapotem Sual. Mo hemi kamaot long Melian mo hemi long saed blong woman. Tru long cross-examination hemi agri se bloodline blong man nomo igat raet blong kam Jif.

7th Witness – Kalkao Melten

Witness ia hemi adopted pikinini blong Kalmetabil, we hemi grand papa blong Kalmetabil Namba 2 cross claimant long kes ia. Hemi talem se papa blong Kalmetabil hemi blong Banks. Long cross-examination hemi pruvum se papa blong Kalmetabil from hemi no ansarem everi kwestin we ikamaot (Kot hemi rejectem olgeta evidence ia).

8th Witness – Malachai Russel

Hemi sapotem nomo bagegen family tree blong Sual Kalmari.

Nao court ia iharem olgeta toktok ia mo faenem se olgeta itokabaot ol samting we ino rili helpem Kot ia wetem kes blong Sual Kalmarie. Kes blong oleta isemak olsem blong Waya Tenene we isoem olgeta ikamaot long bloodline blong women. 

2ND CROSS CLAIMANT – Kalmetabil KALMET Nmak

Case blong Chief Kalmetabil Nmak ibin presentem by Timteo Kalmet olsem spokesman. Chief Kalmetabil Nmak hemi gat 3 witnesses, igat:-

1. Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak 
2. Charley Kalmet Nmakus 
3. Chief Andrew Kalpoilep

1st Witness – Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak 

Kot ia hemi bin harem full statement blong Chief Kalmetabil Nmak. Mo long statement blong hem, hemi statem iclear long family tree se hemi stap claimem title blong chief long saed blong bloodline blong man we hemi NMAK KALSAUR. Wife blong hem, hemi MPES, tufala igat tu (2) boys. First born hemi Kalmetabil Nmak mo second born hemi Kalomtak Nmak. 

Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak hemi kamaot long No. 4 generation we hemi first born boy blong Charley Msaiwi Kalmet mo Bally Wayane we today hemi stap claimem title blong Chief. Mo long statement blong hem, hemi ansarem clear olgeta question blong Supreme Court.

Hemi confirmem too long Kot se hemi claimem title blong Chief long saed blong man we hemi Nmak Kalsaur. 

Spokesman blong first witness hemi produsim wan letter blong Vaturisu Kaonsel blong ol Custom Jifs igo long Chief Waya Tenene’s council long Erakor village, olsem exhibit blong Kot abaot decisen blong namba 4 Vaturisu Council of Chiefs conference long Newora village, Nguna Island. 

Long toktok blong Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak hemi confirmem too sam exhibit C9, we Vaturisu Council oli bin holem mo long ples ia exhibit ia ishoem new kastom chief blong Erakor (chief Nmak Kalmetabil Kalmet).

Long cross-examination by Mr. Malachai Russel, spokesman blong Kalmari Sual 

Hemi pruvum too se hemi kamaot long bloodline blong man we hemi Nmak Kalsaur.

2nd Witness – Charley Kalmet Npakus

Long toktok blong witness hemi pruvum too se Kalmetabil Nmak hemi first born son blong Chief Nmak Kalsaur mo Kot ia ikat pruv too se ibin kat wan judgment we ikamaot long Efate Island Kastom Kot mo hemi declarem se Kalmetabil Nmak Kalmet olsem paramount chief blong Erakor village mo Waya Tenene ibin lusum kot ia mo judgment ia oli bin terem. 

3rd Witness – Andrew Pakoa Kalpoilep of Eratap village, (former Presient blong Vaturisu Council of Jifs)

Spokesman blong Kalmetabil Nmak we hemi Timteo Kalmet hemi questionem work blong Vaturisu Council of Chiefs. Long answer blong hem, hemi talem se Vaturisu hemi wan organization blong ol chiefs we hemi form up before independence. Long work blong hem, hemi blong ordainem chief raon long Efate mo ol nara social problems. Mo hemi confirmem too long toktok blong hem se bloodline blong man ishould tekem title blong chief. Ikamaot long first born boy blong chief. 

Cross-examination by John Kaluat for Waya Tenene. 

Spokesman blong Waya Tenene long question blong hem igo long witness Andrew Pakoa Kalpoilep se ibin gat some chief we oli bin ordainem olgeta long saed blong woman. 

Folem olgeta findings blong kot ia, Kot imas ansarem olgeta issue we Supreme Court hemi aotlinem olgeta istap. 

Issue No. 1 – Igat eni raet long kastom blong Erakor blong karemaot wan jif we hemi bin stap mekem work blong hem long plante yias ikam finis or nogat? 

Kot ia faenem aot se tufala party blong Waya Tenene mo Kalmetabil Kalmet, tufala tugeta itokabaot se stret bloodline blong man nomo hemi save kam wan niu chief mo tufala iagri se igat rod blong folem. Long kes blong Sual kalmarie, hemi no mentionem nating anyting as long issue ia. 

Issue No. 2 –  Sapos yes, wanem nao hemi raet ia, mo wanem nao stret rod blong folem? 

Kot ia ifaenemaot se raet ia blong karemaot title ia hemi should be claimed by wan stret bloodline blong man. Kot ifaenemaot se raet rod blong folem hemi should be tru long olgeta stret bloodline blong man imit together mo putum wan man we olgeta everi wan iagri long hem. Long kes ia, ino bin gat wan fasin olsem we every family blong man imekem we even wan iagri long hem. From we Current Chief ino mekem kastom fasin blong follem mo putum wan niu Chief,  Nao Kot ia bambae itreatim differently since case istap long kot finis. 

Issue No. 3 –   Long kastom concernem who nao hemi kat raet blong kam wan jif mo long wanem rod? 

Olgeta parties iconfirmem finis se stret bloodline blong jif nomo isave kam jif mo hemia hemi man bloodline we Kot iandastanem tru long kastom blong Efate hemi first born boy blong jif. Fasin blong folem hemi fasin blong papa ipasem igo long first born pikinini blong hem. Fasin blong pas andanit long coffin blong papa bambae pikinini blong jif imas mekem blong karemaot pawa mo title ia sapos papa or jif ino properly handem ova be ided. 

Issue No. 4 – Wanem nao fasin blong jusum wan niufala jif? 

Kot ia ifaenemaot se long kastom blong Efate, imas gat wan miting bitwin olgeta bloodline blong man mo bambae oli stanemap wan long olgeta blong ikam jif be ineva gat election olsem oli previously mekem blong putumap Waya Tenene. Fasin blong folem family tree hemi longfala be Kot ia imas folem. Long kastom, bambai bloodline blong first pikinini boy blong chief Nmak nao bambae itekem ova long work blong jif. Long kes ia, igat proof se Kalmetabil Kalmet nao hemi first bon pikinini blong jif. Court ia bambae isave folem blong tokabaot rod blong woman bloodline nomo sapos hemi nogat pikinini boy jif Nmak be long kes ia Kot inogat intres  blong tokabaot. 

Issue No. 5 –Wanem nao fasin mo custom rod blong ordainem wan niufala jif long Erakor village? 

Kot ia ifaenem aot se fasin blong ordainem wan niufala jif folem kastom practice blong Efate imas be done wetem ol olfala mo olfala jif imas holem hed blong niufala jif blong givim pawa long hem. Sapos olfala jif ided, then 2 or more chiefs (paramount) blong narafala village we kastom isemak imas kam holem hed blong niufala jif. Bambae Efate Vaturisu Council of Jifs imas witnessem mo mekem work blong olgeta long ordination ia.

Issue No. 6 – Wanem rod nao olgeta parties imas folem blong determinem mo putum candidate blong olgeta blong save karem ordination blong kam niu jif? 

Olsem ansa blong No. 4 italem finis, mo Kot ia ifaenemaot se niufala jif blong Erakor hemi mas be inheritance from the chief title Nmak blooline, mo hemi mas be herediary (or folem bloodline blong man igo from generation to generation. Mo tru long bloodline blong man mo olgeta evidence we ikamaot long Kot ia, bambae kot ia istanap long hem mo isave declarem wan niufala jif. 

Kot ia igat proof ikam long olgeta parties se igat wan body we ibin dil wetem kes ia finis Efate Island Kastom Kot we ibin deliverem wan judgment in favour of Kalmetabil Kalmet samtaem long 17 March 2000. Kastom Kot ia ibin setap folem Section 2 blong National Council of Chiefs Act [CAP. 183], mo hemi contained tu insaed long Section 22 Part 1 & 2 blong Constitution blong Republic [CAP. 5]. Kot ia hemi lukim judgment blong kes ia we Efate Island Kastom Kot ibin deliverem mo hemi tekem olsem was evidence blong kes blong Kalmetabil Kalmet be ino tekem olsem wan appil we olgeta narafala party bambae I wantem.

Nao Kot ifaenemaot se ibin gat olgeta chiefs start long generation blong Nmak ikam kasem tedei. Olgeta parties italem se igat fulap chiefs we Ibin passed from paramount Jif Nmak. Nmak igo daon long Kalomtak Nmak. After igo long Kalsong Tata Kaltonga, igo long Matai Kalotiti mo go kassem Waya Tenene. Nao olgeta Ia court I no save se oli bin electem olgeta olsem case blong Waia Tenene or oli bin putum ap olgeta folem kastom fasin blong putum wan niu jif. Court ia I tekem se olgeta oli no bin putum ap olgeta folem kastom fasin, from nomo I gat tumas raorao blong who nao hemi stret blong kam wan nui jif. From reason ia bambai court ia I based long olgeta evidence we I kamaot mo mekem wan judgement we court i ting se I stret.

Kot ia igat proof ikam afta we present Jif Waya Tenene hemi no bin wantem handem ova work igo long wan stret bloodline blong chief Nmak long side blong man. From se kes ia istap long Kot finis, hemi duty blong Kot ia blong faenem aot se who nao bambae istret  man blong karem title ia. Village mo ol affairs blong Erakor village oli no stable an hemi too long we issue ia istap affectem mo costem village blong Erakor, and Court ia I considerem.

According long olgeta Oral mo documentry evidences and olgeta important issues we court ia I considerem, Court ia I finem se I gat “Corroboration” or strong pruf we evidence blong 2 or moa witness I semak, and I gat pruf long Kes blong Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak. Court ia I Consierem olgeta evidences blong claimant No 3 moa bitim Claimant No 1 mo Claimant No 2.  Folem olgeta findings, Court ia hemi mekem decesion mo orders olsem ia:

DECISION BLONG KOT IA

1. Kot hemi declarem se Jif Kalmetabil Kalmet NMAK hemi kam paramount chief blong Erakor village stat long date blong  tedei folem bloodline blong man.

2. Ordination blong niufala Jif Kalmetabil Kalmet NMAK bambae hemi mas be done within 3 manis from date blong order ia. Imin se imas be done on or before 7 Novemba 2002. 

3. Niufala Jif Kalmetabil Kalmet NMAK imas mekem kastom fasin blong talem tankyu long olfala Chief Waya Tenene from service blong hem olsem Jif blong Erakor wetem pipol blong hem mo bambae imas be done long taem blong ordination blong niufala Jif. 

4. Key blong Community Centre blong Erakor village imas be handed igo long Jif Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak no later than 4.30 pm this afternoon. 

5. Niufala Jif Kalmetabil Kalmet Nmak bambae hemi mas singaotem wan kastom meeting, wetem tufala narafala party blong Sual Kalmarie mo Waya Tenene, blong electem wan niu Assistant Jif, mo sapos hemi stret folem kastom wan “MAUR” blong Jif. Order ia imas be done before ordination blong niufala Jif. 

6. Olgeta trifala parties imas arrangem mo mekem wan peace reconciliation ceremony within wan manis from date blong oda ia. 

7. Wan copy blong Order ia imas be served long Offis blong Vaturisu Kouncil blong ol Jifs mo Malvatumauri National Kouncil of Chiefs Offis. Tufala offis ia I mas make sure se Order Numba 2, 3 mo 5 Ikariaot olsem we I stap long Order.

8. Sipos any party ino agri wetem order blong Efate Island Court, hemi gat raet blong appeal I go long Supreme Court within 30 days start long date blong order ia.

9. No Order as to costs.

Dated at Port Vila, this 7th day of August 2002.

Esron MANAPANGA
Justice

Makal KALSONG
Justice

Anne CARLO
Justice