South Pacific Island Legal Systems edited by M. Ntumy (Book Review) [2001] JSPL 16; (2001) 5 Journal of South Pacific Law

Book Review 1 of Volume 5, 2001

by JENNIFER CORRIN CARE

SOUTH PACIFIC ISLAND LEGAL SYSTEMS

General Editor Ntumy, M

University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 1993

ISBN 0-8248-1438-X

Pp 660

This substantial work has been put together by Michael Ntumy, as general editor, and a distinguished editorial committee, consisting of Tony Angelo, Guy Powles, Jean Zorn and Stephen Zorn, who are well know to scholars of South Pacific law. Chapters have been written by members of the editorial committee and eight contributors from a number of academic institutions, including such diverse locations as De Paul University, Chicago and City Polytechnic, Hong Kong. The stated aim of the book is to provide a major step towards a ‘comprehensive reference to the legal systems of the nations and territories of the South and Central Pacific’. It is intended to serve lawyers and non-lawyers alike, both within and outside the region, with information about the governments and legal systems of the region. This goal is achieved with distinction.

The 660 pages of the book are divided in three parts, each representing a different governmental structure. Chapters covering different countries are then grouped within these three sections. The first part is the most substantial and is entitled ‘The Parliamentary Model’. It covers countries with a Westminster style of government. The second part is entitled ‘The Presidential Model’, and deals with countries exhibiting closer ties to a presidential model of government. The third is entitled ‘The French Territories’ and deals with countries coming within that classification.

Within the three parts there are 23 chapters. Each chapter is dedicated to a separate country. Countries covered in Part 1 are Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa (now Samoa). In Part 2 are American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau. Part 3 covers New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia.