Abstract

The past two years have been declared the years of the ‘custom (kastom) economy’ within Vanuatu, by both the Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs and the National Cultural Centre. Such a declaration is indicative of many ni-Vanuatu citizens concerns to do with the [un]sustainable directions of current macro-economic conditions and strategies of the Vanuatu state. Such conditions and strategies have resulted in a potential ‘social disaster’ due to issues such as land alienation from the indigenous people, the undermining of food security as land is utilised for export-oriented trade, tourism and speculative land leasing, and a reliance on external investment. The ‘years of the kastom economy’ reflect both a reaction to and resistance against this kind of orthodox and yet unstustainble direction. This paper considers the complexities of sustainable community economic strategies unpacking two key tensions between the: individual vs collective and cash vs custom. The paper emerges from reflections on four years of working in Vanuatu and specific consultations conducted during 2009.