The Land and Justice Party (in Bislama, Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP)[1]) is a political party in Vanuatu. The party was launched on 11 November 2010 and is led by MP Ralph Regenvanu.[2]
The party aims to produce a generational change in Vanuatu's leadership and is concerned about foreign ownership of businesses.[3] Upon launching the party, Regenvanu -a popular, young and independent Member of Parliament- reportedly described chiefs, churches, women and youth as the four solid legs of the party. He also stated that prospective GJP candidates for parliamentary election would be "severely tested on their record of community service", to ensure that all GJP MPs were committed to defending the public interest.[4]
Subsequently, Regenvanu said his party advocated against people selling their land to investors and thereby depriving their children and descendants of that asset. It also supported a greater use of the customary judicial system, where chiefs act as mediators, rather than the "Western" system, which Regenvanu said often implied significant financial costs for litigants. (See the article on the law of Vanuatu.)[5]
A month after launching the party, Regenvanu was appointed Minister of Cooperatives and ni-Vanuatu Business Development in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Sato Kilman.[6] [7]
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