South Province, New Caledonia
Encyclopedia
The South Province is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia
. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland
. It is by far the most economically developed and most urbanized part of the archipelago
and indeed in the entire Melanesia
n region. The South Province is also the only part of New Caledonia - and Melanesia - where ethnic Melanesians
do not constitute an absolute majority of the population.
The provincial assembly and executive are in Nouméa
. The administrative services of the French central State, however, are located in La Foa
, with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (commissaire délégué de la République), akin to a subprefect
of metropolitan France
, in residence there. La Foa was chosen by the French central State in the late 1980s to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia
The central State administrative services in La Foa are not to be confused with the central State administrative services in Nouméa. The former manage local matters at the provincial level, whereas the latter, with the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia at their head, manage territorial matters for the whole of New Caledonia.
holds 19, the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
has 16, and National Front has 5. This is the only province without any nationalists in the provincial Congress.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland
Geography of New Caledonia
The geography of New Caledonia , an overseas collectivity of France located in the subregion of Melanesia, makes the continental island group unique in the southwest Pacific. Among other things, the island chain has played a role in preserving unique biological lineages from the Mesozoic...
. It is by far the most economically developed and most urbanized part of the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
and indeed in the entire Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n region. The South Province is also the only part of New Caledonia - and Melanesia - where ethnic Melanesians
Melanesians
Melanesians are an ethnic group in Melanesia. The original inhabitants of the group of islands now named Melanesia were likely the ancestors of the present-day Papuan-speaking people...
do not constitute an absolute majority of the population.
The provincial assembly and executive are in Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
. The administrative services of the French central State, however, are located in La Foa
La Foa
La Foa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.Although the provincial seat of the South Province is in Nouméa, La Foa was made the chief town of the administrative subdivision of the South in order to counterbalance the...
, with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (commissaire délégué de la République), akin to a subprefect
Subprefecture
Subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province.-Albania:There are twelve Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is subdivided into several districts, sometimes translated as subprefectures.-Brazil:...
of metropolitan France
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
, in residence there. La Foa was chosen by the French central State in the late 1980s to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia
The central State administrative services in La Foa are not to be confused with the central State administrative services in Nouméa. The former manage local matters at the provincial level, whereas the latter, with the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia at their head, manage territorial matters for the whole of New Caledonia.
Provincial Congress
Of the 40 seats in the provincial congress, the Future TogetherFuture Together
The Future Together is a center-right political party in New Caledonia supporting the maintenance of political and administrative ties with France....
holds 19, the Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
The The Rally–UMP is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is affiliated with the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
has 16, and National Front has 5. This is the only province without any nationalists in the provincial Congress.