Saturday 22^nd September

I have been spending a lovely bit of time with my sister Monique, who lives in Launceston but who has a small business in Vanuatu.

All small (and large…) businesses in Vanuatu, run by locals or by expats are finding  it very hard going.  (The little second hand bookshop which was set up with such high hopes when we were there, by a very keen Australian couple, has folded up after only a few months.  Other shops are closing daily...)  All expats except…the Chinese.  They work methodically and relentlessly and very successfully.  Leah, Monique’s daughter, who runs their little shop with her boyfriend Mark, who is a Nivan, went to a seminar in Port Vila recently where they were told to work like the Chinese.  Go to China!  Set up family co-operatives!  Bring back business knowledge and trade deals!  Go to the local Chinese shops and ask for advice!

Well what a total lot of rubbish!  The people in Vanuatu do NOT work this way, in co-operative large inter-generational family groups.  They don’t have the relentless work ethic or business knowledge which has been built up over hundreds of generations in China.  And as for the Port Vila Chinese shops being willing to impart knowledge and advice…not bloody likely; why would they???