NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA—A majority of voters in the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia chose to remain part of France instead of backing independence, election officials announced Sunday as French President Emmanuel Macron promised a full dialogue on the region’s future. The decision to keep ties with France was watershed moment for the archipelago that lies east of Australia and has sun-kissed lagoons as well as a nickel mining industry. The French Pacific islands of New Caledonia were voting on November 4 on whether to become an independent nation, in a closely-watched test of support for France in one of its many territories scattered around the globe. ( THEO ROUBY / AFP/GETTY IMAGES )Final results Sunday saw 56.4 per cent of voters choosing to remain part of France compared to 43.6 per cent support for independence, the high commissioner’s office said. It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.

Source: thestar November 04, 2018 14:04 UTC