Father Walter Lini, the anti-colonialist cleric who led the New Hebrides from confused French-British rule into a sometimes turbulent independence as Vanuatu, has died aged 56. He was widely regarded as one of the South Pacific's greatest leaders.
The Honorable Father, as he was known, had responsibility for 51 different portfolios at the height of his 11-year prime ministership, ranging from the all-important paramilitary force to the Girl Guides. He saw the Melanesian archipelago of 80 islands which comprises Vanuatu survive secessionist tensions and went on to become increasingly autocratic.
He continued in power, despite suffering a severe stroke and beating a parliamentary bid to unseat him, and was only ousted in 1991 by a no-confidence vote. He was expelled from the Vanuaaku Pati (Party) he helped form but maintained a high profile in public life to the end.
Walter Lini was born on the island of Pentecost and trained for the Anglican priesthood in the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, where he became active in that country's Labour Party politics.
The island nation, which had been colonised by both the British and French, had been ruled by a joint condominium government since the turn of the century. The English-speaking and Francophone communities ran largely separate administrations.
In the late 1970s, Lini, who had taken leave from the church, led the National Party (which was to become the Vanuaaku Party) to become the largest political grouping in the country. He worked on securing independence from the colonial rulers and became the last chief minister of the New Hebrides in 1979. A year later he was the first prime minister of the independent Vanuatu, which means Our Land Forever.
But a rebellion was rumbling on the largely French-speaking island of Espiritu Santo, led by the eccentric local plantation owner Jimmy Stevens, over Lini's proposed land reforms. There were evacuations and the killing of an MP in a conflict which quickly became known as the coconut war.
It was short-lived. Britain sent 200 Royal Marines and later, after independence, Lini used troops from Papua New Guinea to crush the revolt and cement his reputation as a determined leader whose support mainly came from the English-speaking community.
The new nation showed great economic promise with an established infrastructure and education system, a booming tourism sector and growth as an established tax haven. But damage from cyclones, falling commodity prices, uncontrolled government spending and political uncertainty all took their toll.
In 1986 Lini responded to Libyan overtures, made contact and sent people to Tripoli. The Australians, whom he accused of spying on his country, were alarmed, but could do nothing. He also expelled two French ambassadors, led the charge to establish a nuclear-free zone and provided leadership as the elder statesmen of the region after the two coups in nearby Fiji in 1987.
Then, in early 1987, the islands were hit by a cyclone which devastated the capital Port Vila and killed 45 people. In the same year Lini - during a visit to Washington - suffered a massive stroke, which paralysed his right side and forced him for a time into a wheelchair.
As if to illustrate Vanuatu's unpredictable foreign policy, he had flown to the US to attend a prayer breakfast at the White House and sign a controversial fishing agreement, which gave Soviet tuna boats their first port access in the South Pacific.
Lini made a strong and then slow recovery as the economy foundered, and there was increasing political instability, with challenges and sackings in the cabinet. He was re-elected in 1989, but stepped down in 1991 after a no confidence vote citing misuse of powers and breaches of the constitution. He commented: 'Kick me out, I'm not weeping for this position'.
But Lini relished public life, and throughout the chaotic coalition rule of the 1990s occupied various posts including deputy prime minister and justice minister, when he ordered the mass arrest of the paramilitary force after a rebellion over unpaid allowances.
Last year he accused 10 political and religious leaders of inciting a riot which followed an ombudsman's report accusing politicians of misappropriating money from a national provident fund.
In New Zealand, Labour Party leader Helen Clarke said Lini had been an inspirational figure who advocated peace on the road to independence while others wanted to use force.
He is survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.
Father Walter Lini, politician, born 1942; died February 21, 1999