Belep
Commune
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of Belep
Coordinates: 19°45′00″S 163°40′00″E / 19.75°S 163.6667°E / -19.75; 163.6667
CountryFrance
Sui generis collectivityNew Caledonia
ProvinceNorth Province
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Baptiste Moilou[1]
Area
1
69.5 km2 (26.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2019 census)[2]
867
 • Density12/km2 (32/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
 • 2019 censusKanaks 98.5%
Europeans 0.12%
Mixed 1.04%
Other 0.23%
Time zoneUTC+11:00
INSEE/Postal code
98801 /98811
Elevation0–283 m (0–928 ft)
(avg. 20 m or 66 ft)
1 New Caledonia Land Register (DITTT) data, which exclude lakes and ponds larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers.

Belep (sometimes unofficially spelled Bélep) is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It has almost 900 people living on 70 km2.

The commune's territory is made up of the Belep Islands (also known as the Belep Archipelago), which lie to the north of New Caledonia's mainland. The two principal islands in the Belep Archipelago are Art Island (a.k.a. Aar) and Pott Island fr (a.k.a. Phwoc). The rest of the archipelago consists of the Northern and Southern Daos Islands, and several very small islets.

The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Waala, on Art Island, the largest of the Belep Islands. The local language is Nyêlâyu.[3]

History

The Belep Islands were named after a Kanak chief who settled there in ancient times. A Catholic mission was founded in Belep in 1856 by Pierre Lambert (1822–1903) but only lasted until 1863. The Marists later returned, and another priest Marie-Joseph Dubois (1913–1998), who lived there 1940–1941, wrote a history of Bélep in 1985.

In 1879, following a widespread Kanak rebellion led by Ataï, some of the insurgents were temporarily moved from Grande Terre to the islands as punishment. The islands were the site of a leper colony between 1892 and 1898 during which time the islanders were exiled to Balade and suffered greatly. On their return, they were not allowed to reoccupy Isle Pott, taken by a colonial copra farmer, monsieur Mary, permitted by government authority. It took the clans until the 1950s to buy it back.[4]

The standard of living in Belep has risen since the 1950s, in common with other outlying parts of New Caledonia. However traditions and language are strongly maintained, only half the population can speak French, and few residents have any school certificates having only attended until the age of 12.[5] Around 1955, an airstrip was built in Waala and there are flights, but it is the least frequented AirCal route.[6] Passenger boats to Koumac and Poum are irregular. A modern medical clinic, serviced by a French doctor and nurses, was also built. Waala has the only primary school, shops, church, and post office. In 1961, Belep became a commune; its first mayor was elected in 1969. In the 1980s, when the movement for Kanak independence became violent (Les Evènements) some Belema migrated to the Mainland to escape political divisions.[4]

Belep struggles to obtain resources from the territorial government and there is still no schooling beyond primary level (children then have to attend boarding school on Grande Terre, in Poum for example). Settlement, disrupted by events in the 19th century, has concentrated clans in Waala. Alcoholism is a serious problem and there have been violent episodes, including the killing of a clinic staff member in 2003.[7]

In August 2016 a large bushfire ravaged Isle Art.

Economy

The economy is reliant on fishing, the main commercial activity. Around 40% of all registered business are in the fisheries sector. The reef fish Scomberomorus commerson, a mackerel, is caught and over 20 tonnes a year are sold. Scallops (Amusium japonicum balloti) are sold to SAS West Pacific Scallops, an Australian company, destined for Australia and Asia. The scallop trade is supported by the Northern Province and 20% by the clans. It has provided some training and prevented youth from migrating to Grande Terre.[6]

There are small cobalt reserves, exploited unsuccessfully in the 19th century.[6]

Belep has no tourist facilities and no accommodation for visitors.

References

  1. ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ↑ Population, ménages et logement par commune, en 2019, Institut de la statistique et des études économiques Nouvelle-Calédonie
  3. ↑ "Following the Pathways. Contemporary Ceremonies, Representations of the Past and Catholicism in Northern New Caledonia". Les dynamiques religieuses dans le pacifique : Formes et figures contemporaines de la spiritualité océanienne. Cahiers du Credo. pacific-credo Publications. 28 March 2018. pp. 85–111. ISBN 9782956398103.
  4. 1 2 Chelsea Leigh McCracken (November 2012). "A grammar of Belep" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2019-05-14 – via core.ac.uk.
  5. ↑ "Portrait des résidents en tribu de la commune de Bélep". Institut de la statistique et des études économiques Nouvelle-Calédonie (in French).
  6. 1 2 3 "Ce que Dau Ar doit à la mer". vkpinfos.nc. 25 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-05-14.
  7. ↑ Hamelin, Christine; Salomon, Christine; Sitta, Rémi; Gueguen, Alice; Cyr, Diane; Lert, France (April 1, 2009). "Childhood sexual abuse and adult binge drinking among Kanak women in New Caledonia" (PDF). Social Science & Medicine. 68 (7): 1247–1253. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.01.005. S2CID 7687672 – via ScienceDirect.

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