Yemen Comes to South Wairarapa

At the August meeting of the South Wairarapa Probus Club local resident Dr Paul Harris gave us an illustrated talk on the little known country of Yemen.

What a fascinating story he told! Paul Harris, a past member of the NZ Electoral Commission had spent time in San’a, the capital, assisting the Yemen Government to develop electoral systems that would bring that country into the modern world as far as national elections were concerned.

Yemen , Paul showed us, lies to the south of Saudi Arabia and the west of Oman. It has a population of 25 million, mainly Arab, almost totally Moslem, and 70% living in the rural areas. The country is largely desert and mountains with fertile regions along the coasts of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean . Its location is strategically important as it borders the Red Sea which carries 10% of the world’s oil trade to the Suez Canal.

Politically the country is unstable due to weak governments, tribal conflicts and the increasing conservative Moslem influences coming over the border from Saudi Arabia . Corruption is rife.
45% of the population live below the poverty line and the economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid.

Loaded with ancient history and distinctive architecture Yemen is clearly a wonderful option for the more intrepid travellers of the SW Probus Club to consider visiting. Paul Harris’ talk was strongly applauded and much appreciated.”
 
Hiatt Cox