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Laidback Ocean Nation Takes a Democratic Lead

Mark Gleeson writes from Sao Tome
*****Almost in a time warp, the islands of the tiny nation of Sao Tome and Principe stand isolated from the African mainland. But politically they have shifted with the times. Almost without incident they changed from one-party to multi-party rule. After a night of mild revelry following the election of a new president the people went back to their fishing and farming routines.*****
DESPITE a virtual clamour around Africa for multiparty reform, few countries have so far actually made the transition from one-party to multi-party rule. One such, however, is Sao Tome and Principe.
Sandwiched between free elections in Cape Verde and then Benin, were those of this
Sao Tomeans are of mixed African. Jewish and Portuguese descent who have peacefuly tilled the soil and fished the seas off their islands for centuries.
After Independence in 1975 they were governed by the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome e Principe (MLSTP).
Since then the country has been badly affected by the fluctuating world cocoa price and by a rising debt burden that has left the fledgling state with little export income and almost no scope for economic expan-sion.
Increased tourism is a possibility: the islands remain a tropical paradise, plentiful in fdS8 natural beauty, and so far unspoiled by the international tourist trade.
Almost as if caught in a time-warp, the islands stand Isolated from the African mainland and. to an extent, from themselves.
A dally flight, too expensive for most islanders, plies between Sao Tome, where all but
5,000 of the country's 120,000 live, and Principe, where virgin tropical forest' covers 80 per cent of the Island.
The first rumblings for multi-party reform were heard back in 1985 within the MLSTP. The then president,
Pinto da Costa, was Initiating economic and political changes as the price of cocoa, the country's most important export crop, plummeted on the world market.
A decision to hold multiparty election was announced in December 1989 and later con-
firmed by referendum. Last January the MI-STP was swept from power in parliamentary elections which were to be a foretaste of the presidential race.
Perhaps seeing the writing or> the wall. President Manuel Pinto da Costa pulled out of the race before it had begun.
This left the field open to former prime minister Miguel Trovoada. Guadelune de Celta. who was Trovoada's colleague in the struggle for Independence from Portugal, and an eccentric former mercenary. Afonso dos Santos.
Trovoada. In exile in France since a fall-out with president
Da Costa In 1979. emerged as clear favourite from the moment he returned to Sao Tome tn May last year.
His smiling face stared out from posters on almost every building and on T-shirts handed out to people. His was a slick, almost American-style campaign with long motor cavalcades. populist speeches, balloons. bands and even plastic shopping packets for housewives.
Trovoada's elegant wife and attractive daughter also played a visible part In the proceedings and drew large crowds throughout the Islands.
Both De Celta and Dos Santos faded into the background, then pulled out of the race alto gether. and Trovoada romped home with 80 per cent of the vote.
Significantly, however, there was a large absentee ballot, put down mainly for tacit support for outgoing president Da Costa. He is expected now to bide his time knd plan a return to politics. perhaps when Trovoada's five-year term ends in 1996
The Sao Tome election was held without incident. Even election night revelry was re la lively subdued, being concen trated In the town centre and limited to a few hundred people.
It was. In effect, a sideshow for a nation whose people quickly went back to their rou tines of fishing, planting and selling In the colourful markets.
Trovoada has a complex task ahead of him. He has to deliver on promises to bring economic prosperity to the Isolated islands—a formidable task given the country s size and lack of resources.
Some hopes are pinned on finding oil. Exploration has been going on for years without significant results, although both Gabon to the east and Nigeria to the north are now oil producers.
In the Immediate future, Sao Tome e Principe will seek to attract investment into Its agricultural and fishing industries and to develop its tourism. — GEMINI NEWS