"The support of nations that have successfully completed decolonization is valuable to us. The Baku Initiative Group makes a serious contribution to educating the international community by exposing France's colonial policy," Marie-Line Sakilia, Deputy Chair of the Family and Women's Affairs Commission of the New Caledonia Parliament, said during her speech at the international conference Decolonization: Silent Revolution organized by the Baku Initiative Group at the UN headquarters in New York, Report informs.
Speaking about the historical context, Marie-Line Sakilia recalled the 1988 peace agreement, emphasizing that the people of New Caledonia have been trying to preserve intellectual, economic, and governance mechanisms in their relations with France.
Discussing the economic situation, Marie-Line Sakilia stated that France's policy is causing mass migration in the region.
Touching upon the 1998 agreement, the representative noted that it is time to recognize and implement these historical values again.
Highlighting problems in the labor market, she said that instead of meeting local needs or employing physically capable local people, foreign labor is being attracted from Europe through external networks, contrary to local interests. This indicates insufficient information flow and management amid local resource shortages: "These difficulties must be clearly identified for our people to restore their self-governance capabilities. This is the path of a society that wants to build a healthier future by embracing its past," the representative added.
