Feature: Greenland takes another step to independence

The prime minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Thor Pedersen, speaker of the Danish Parliament, and Greenland’s prime minister Kuupik Kleist talk on their way to the presentation of the new self-governance law. (PHOTO BY JORGEN CHEMNITZ)

Thousands of people gathered at the old town of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city, for celebrations kicking off June 21 self-rule celebrations. (PHOTO COURTESY OF SIKU NEWS)

Organizers saluted Greenland’s June 21 move towards independence from Denmark with cannon-fire last week. (PHOTO BY JORGEN CHEMNITZ)

Greenland, which has been under Danish control for 300 years, moved closer to becoming independent on June 21, when its new self-government law, called self rule, came into effect.

From Narsasuaq in southern Greenland to Upernavik in the north, Kalaallit gathered to sing Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit (“You, our ancient land”) as part of the celebrations for June 21, Greenland’s national day and also the 30th anniversary of home rule form of self-government in Greenland.

Public festivities signaled the move to the new, expanded self-government by many “new” gestures — the launch of Bâja Pilluarit beer, whose bottle bears a logo of a ring seal, the inauguration of a city square and unveiling of huge sculptures in Nuuk, the opening of a permanent exhibition “New people — new premises” at Greenland National Museum and an “Ice cool” rock music concert.

But tradition largely reigned at June 21’s official events.

Thousands gathered near the harbour in the old town of Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk, which is still dominated by a statue honouring the 18th century Danish missionary Hans Egede, who founded Godthåb (now Nuuk) and brought Christianity to Greenland.

With cell phones and digital cameras raised, people tried to catch a glimpse of Denmark’s queen or record speeches by Asii Chemnitz Narup, the mayor of Nuuk, and Kuupik Kleist, Greenland’s new prime minister.

“This morning we awoke with new hope in our heart. “From today we are starting a new era in the history of our country, a new era full of hope and possibilities,” Kleist told the crowd, which included Denmark’s royal family, Danish government leaders and representatives from 17 nations, including Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak.

Huge cannon were fired, kayaks sped across the harbour, and everyone cheered a welcome to Greenland’s new relationship to Denmark.

Kleist later compared this new relationship to changes in a marriage where “the wife was bossing around her henpecked husband” to a reporter from the The New York Times

“From today, the man in the house has as much say as the wife,” he said.

The new self-governance law, approved by a huge majority in a Greenland-wide referendum last November, still links Greenland to Denmark, but gives Greenland control of its police force, coast guard, and courts.

Greenlandic, spoken by about 95 per cent of the island’s 57,000 residents, now becomes the official language.

As for money, the Danish subsidy known as the block grant, worth $638 million (3.2 billion kroner) remains in place.

But if oil or mineral resources are developed, the new self-rule deal says the first $16 million, goes to Greenland. Then, money will be split between Denmark and Greenland and deducted from the block grant.

Greenland will be able to seek full independence when its revenues double the amount of the block grant, it says.

But the new self-rule comes at a price. The 30 new areas of administration now under Greenland’s control will cost $63 million to maintain, with $42 million going towards establishing an independent judiciary, law enforcement and correctional system.

When introducing the self-rule law into the house on June 21, Josef Tuusi Motzfeldt, the speaker of Greenland’s parliament, emphasized the government’s main commitment to improve conditions in Greenland where unemployment, low levels of education and social problems including alcoholism, violence and child abuse are still widespread.

“This day is the day of a new beginning in history. This new era still requires work from all of us, women, children, young and old. Whatever we are unable to manage alone, requires a collective effort,” Motzfeldt said.

“Storms will emerge, we will run into steep mountain walls and sometimes we will tread on thin ice. Lets us give each other a hand shake in promising that we will work harder.”

Financial problems already face Greenland’s new government, formed when left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit Party beat the Siumut Party on June 2 and then formed a coalition government with two centrist parties.

One of the new government’s first actions was to give Royal Greenland, the government-owned seafood company, a bailout of about $106 million.

This payment, along with a planned budget deficit and money earmarked for hydroelectric projects, could drain Greenland’s reserves of $425 million by as early as 2012, some experts predict.

Self-rule was based on the idea that Greenland’s huge reserves of oil and minerals would give the island all the money it needs.

But that was before the global economic recession knocked down the market for metals. This put the development of the Nalunaq gold mine and the Black Angel zinc mine on hold.

And, although there’s lots of uranium in Greenland, the government decided this week not to let a uranium mining project near Narsaq proceed because it was too close to the community.

An aluminum smelter proposed for Maniitsoq may also come with a steep price. A recent report for the Greenland Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum suggested the smelter would double Greenland’s total production of climate-warming, carbon dioxide emissions.

Going ahead with the smelter could see Greenland buying millions of dollars of carbon credits to offset its greenhouse gas emissions or opting out of emission reduction targets to be set later this year at an international climate change meeting in Copenhagen- something Denmark would prefer not to see.

Negotiating a plan with Denmark to allow development of Greenland’s natural resources is one of the new prime minister’s top priorities, said Poul Krarup, the editor of Greenland’s Sermitsiaq newspaper.

“It is very important that Greenland can be allowed to build up the mining industry without paying a lot of money for CO2 quotas,” Krarup said.

To promote economic potential in other areas, Nuuk hosted a “Greenland Expo – Business and Investment Potentials” trade fair June 20.

Asii Chemnitz Narup, the mayor of Nuuk and the Sermersooq regional municipality, told Nunatsiaq News that she isn’t sure where the money for the infrastructure Nuuk needs for its growing population of 17,800 will come from.

But more economic development and trade links with Canada, along with a regular flight connection between the two Arctic neighbours, could help, she said.