Loyalty Islands Province

The Loyalty Islands Province is one of the three main parts of New Caledonia. It includes the Loyalty Islands, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, located northeast of the New Caledonian mainland of Grande Terre.

The government center of this province is at Lifou. The Loyalty Islands are a special area of France. In 2019, about 18,353 people lived there on an area of almost 2,000 square kilometers (770 square miles). The native people are Melanesians who speak different Kanak languages, and Polynesians who speak the Fagauvea language.

History

The first time people from the West knew about the Loyalty Islands was in 1793, thanks to a British captain named William Raven. He was sailing on a ship called Britannia.

Later, in 1869, the French government asked some missionaries to leave the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia. The missionaries then sailed to the Torres Strait Islands on a ship called Surprise. This journey is remembered as "The Coming of the Light" and happened on July 1, 1871.

Geography

The Loyalty Islands are a group of six main islands: Lifou Island, Maré Island, Tiga Island, Ouvéa Island, Mouli Island, and Faiava Island. There are also smaller islands and islets. All together, they cover an area of 1,981 km² (765 sq mi). The tallest point is 138 meters (453 feet) above sea level on Maré Island. These islands are part of the New Caledonia rain forests area. The main thing they produce and sell is copra.

In February 2021, a strong earthquake happened near the islands. Many smaller quakes followed, and later in May, more big quakes caused waves felt across the Pacific Ocean.

Demographics

The people of the Loyalty Islands have mixed Melanesian and Polynesian ancestry, with a few people of European background. In 2009, the population was 17,436, which was smaller than the 22,080 counted in 2004. By 2014, the number went up to 18,297, and by 2019, it reached 18,353.

Many more people from the Loyalty Islands live on New Caledonia, especially in the capital city, Nouméa, and in areas where mining happens on the main island.

Communes

The Loyalty Islands Province has three main areas called communes. These are:

• Lifou, which includes Lifou Island, Tiga Island, and several smaller islands.
• Maré, which includes Maré Island and Dudun Island.
• Ouvéa, which includes Ouvéa Island, Mouli Island, Faiava Island, and several nearby islands and small islands.

Walpole Island is part of the Loyalty Islands but is grouped with Île des Pins in the South Province of New Caledonia.

Provincial congress

Main article: Politics of New Caledonia

The Loyalty Islands Province has a congress with 14 seats. These seats are shared among six different groups. The Caledonian Union, which supports New Caledonia's independence, has four seats. The Rally for Caledonia in the Republic, which does not support independence, has two seats. Three other groups — the National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, Socialist Kanak Liberation, and the Renewed Caledonian Union — each have two seats. The Union of Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees also has two seats.

Presidents of Loyalty Province

The Loyalty Islands Province has had several leaders since 1989. The first leader was Richard Kaloï from 1989 to 1995. Nidoïsh Naisseline led from July 14, 1995, to May 9, 1999. Robert Xowie was in charge from May 14, 1999, to May 9, 2004. Néko Hnepeune served from May 14, 2004, to May 17, 2019. The current leader, Jacques Lalié, has been in office since May 17, 2019.