The main employers’ and craft organizations fear “disastrous economic and social consequences” if the referendum were postponed, as demanded by the separatists.
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No question of changing the schedule. New Caledonian economic officials fear “disastrous economic and social consequences” if the referendum on independence scheduled for December 12 was postponed after the decision of the separatists not to participate. “New Caledonia cannot afford a postponement of the referendum to 2022, it must be held on the scheduled date because democracy is stronger than the pandemic”, declared to the press, Wednesday, October 27, the persons in charge of NC Eco, which brings together the main employers’ and craft organizations, as well as the consular chambers.
They were speaking after the FLNKS separatists announced last week their choice not to participate in this third referendum because of the Covid-19 epidemic, which is hitting the archipelago and preventing “a fair campaign”, according to them. As the economy suffers from “this long period of institutional uncertainty”, NC Eco pointed out that between 2016 and 2020 “salaried employment had fallen by 10%, by 40% in the construction industry and that every year 2,000 people leave the territory”.
Recently visiting Nouméa, the Minister of Overseas Territories, Sébastien Lecornu, reiterated that “only an epidemic out of control “ could lead to a postponement of the last referendum of the Noumea Accord. A decision is expected to be announced by November 10.