| In the male dominated arena of politics, a special | | | | mortgages, as well as easy credit and pays a |
| recommendation has to be given to any woman | | | | handsome 15% interest. The bank has reserves, |
| brave enough to enter the blood thirsty arena. It | | | | cheque books, accounts and tight security, even |
| is great to see how Ms Hilary Clinton has once | | | | though most of the security is done by snakes |
| more appeared in the headlines, now backing | | | | and spirits. |
| Barack Obama. | | | | Often the tusks are still attached to the dead |
| A world away, another woman is facing | | | | pig's skull. Pigs which produce the highly prized |
| unbelievable odds. On a tropical island in Vanuatu, | | | | curled tusks, have their top teeth removed to |
| in the South Pacific, Mrs Jenny Ligo is under | | | | allow the bottom teeth to curl. For the remainder |
| pressure from an unexpected source. | | | | of their life they are hand fed. The pig must be |
| Earlier this year Jenny followed in her famous | | | | kept tied up in order to prevent any damage to |
| Aunt's footsteps when she was granted a chiefly | | | | the tusk. The older the pig is, the better the curl. |
| title, by the head of the National Council of Chiefs, | | | | The very rare three curled tusk is worn only by |
| Chief Paul Tahi. | | | | chiefs. |
| Jenny was first liberally dusted with baby powder, | | | | It is still a common practice in some areas, for |
| a symbol of good luck and well done. Just where | | | | women to pay school fees with pig tusks |
| this custom arose from, no one knows, but | | | | currency. Many more children would never have |
| beware if you are an honored guest in Vanuatu. | | | | the opportunity to go to school, in a society |
| You too will be thoroughly dusted with baby | | | | where villagers live on under $1 per day. This is |
| powder. | | | | not a problem, where the land provides most of |
| Jenny ceremoniously killed eleven pigs, in order to | | | | the villager's needs. |
| enter the brutal field of politics. Jenny has also | | | | Where does Mrs Ligo purchase the highly prized |
| ceremoniously killed eleven pigs at her wedding to | | | | 10 pigs she may have to give Chief Moli and his |
| Joe Ligo late last year. | | | | chiefs? Especially as Chief Moli is not living on the |
| Jenny is the niece of the Political and Women's | | | | island of Ambae. Will Jenny have to present the |
| rights' activist, Grace Molisa. Mrs Molisa became | | | | pigs on Ambae island, or to the chiefs living on the |
| the first woman to hold the Position of Private | | | | distant island of Santo? will the pigs get to fly? |
| Secretary to the nation's first Prime Minister, late | | | | The plot thickens as Chief Benwel Garae of North |
| Father Walter Lini, after the nation's independence, | | | | Ambae and Chief Pascal Sese of Lolopuepue step |
| 28 years ago. | | | | into the political arena. The two chiefs come from |
| In Vanuatu the general election is only weeks | | | | the chiefly rank of Mambuhangvulu, the second |
| away and Mrs Ligo has returned to her home | | | | highest rank of the Ambae chiefly system. Jenny |
| island of Ambae. As this courageous lady traveled | | | | also comes from that tribe. |
| to most parts of the island, all should have been | | | | The chiefs told the local newspaper in the capital |
| plain going for her. Wrong! | | | | of Vanuatu, "If Chief Moli lived on Ambae he |
| Chief Moli Tari, speaking on behalf of some of the | | | | would not question Mrs Ligo's right to participate in |
| chiefs of Ambae, stated that Mrs Ligo would not | | | | the political environment. The call made by Chief |
| be permitted to contest in the Ambae | | | | Moli is childish and totally without substance." |
| constituency, according to the island's custom | | | | Jenny would be very happy to meet with Chief |
| principles. Surprisingly this never floated to the | | | | Moli face to face, but for some unknown reason, |
| surface when the pig killing ceremony took place | | | | Chief Moli is unattainable. |
| earlier this year. Perhaps the ancient custom | | | | We have confidence that the strongly |
| principles from this island change from day to | | | | determined, former chairwoman for the Vanuatu |
| day? | | | | National Council of Women has all she needs to |
| Chief Moli has told Jenny that she can only | | | | contest this upcoming election. Jenny is the kind |
| contest the Ambae constituency under one | | | | of candidate who can alter the education situation |
| condition. She must perform a custom ceremony | | | | where there is no free education. As a mother, |
| to the chiefs ,presenting them with 10 tusked | | | | and gently spoken woman, Jenny has a real heart |
| pigs. This is because Jenny was married to Joe | | | | for the next generation |
| Ligo on another island, the island of Pentecost. | | | | With women like Jenny in power, there is high |
| In Vanuatu you can't walk into a sales yard and | | | | hope for charities like YouMe Support Foundation, |
| buy 10 tusked pigs. Particularly if the pigs are of a | | | | to get help to assist the children from these |
| good age and size. Pig tusks are real currency. | | | | isolated communities. Children who will never see |
| They are one of the highly prized possessions and | | | | the inside of a high school classroom without |
| are the wealth of every village. The Tari Buri | | | | outside aid. Children who rely on a once in a |
| Bank, headed by Chief Viraleo is thought to have | | | | lifetime Blue Moon Opportunity to provide them |
| nearly $ 1 billion in collateral, in pig tusks in the | | | | with funds for non-repayable high school education |
| bank's fourteen branches. The bank offers | | | | grants. |