Government

Government probes passengers on cargo flight to Vanuatu

Two of the passengers were tested positive for Covid-19 during the routine testing at the quarantine facility in Port Vila on Sunday.

The Government’s Public Relations Officer in the Prime Minister’s Office, Fred Vurobaravu said they want to know why the passengers were allowed on the flight given New Caledonia has cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19.

The French overseas territory has been under a lockdown since early September, due to the worsening Covid-19 crisis.

Solomons govt to conduct test lockdown of national capital

In a statement on Friday the government said the lockdown was necessary given the surge of the deadly COVID-19 delta variant globally.

It said this was especially important as the country prepares for a limited re-opening of incoming flights which have been suspended for weeks because of worsening delta outbreaks in neighbouring countries.

It said Cabinet has approved the trial of the revised Lock-down plan for the Honiara Emergency Zone through a 36-hour lockdown from 6pm on Sunday 29th August to 6am Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Vanuatu government to decide on plight of students in Fiji

A number of ni-Vanuatu students at the University of the South Pacific have been caught up in Fiji's alarming COVID-19 outbreak, with several having tested positive for the virus and gone into isolation.

The Daily Post reports that Vanuatu's Prime Minister Bob Loughman was briefed on the students' situation Thursday by education officials.

A paper with options on how to support the students if they wish to return home is to be deliberated on by Vanuatu's Council of Ministers.

 

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Vanuatu Utilities and Infrastructure pays concession to Government

It is the first electricity concession agreement that the Government has entered into with VUI Ltd.

Minister Johnny Koanapo asknowledged VUI for honoring its obligations under the agreement and also for intervening post TC Harold in restoring the power supply in Luganville.

“It was not an easy period for the government as one of the main concerns at that time was the continuous supply of electricity to people particularly Santo to enable policies and activities planned by the government to continue and VUI has played an important role then,” he said.

Vanuatu Government caucus claims PM Loughman has support

The Government’s Public Relations Officer Fred Vurobaravu said the Government side has 28 MPs and is ready to defeat the motion of confidence against the Prime Minister.

Vurobaravu said 27 members of the Parliament were present today and they re-committed their support to the leadership of Prime Minister Loughman.

He released a photo in an attempt to verify support for the Prime Minister.

According to Vurobaravu, the Opposition does not have the numbers to pass the motion of no confidence.

Israel's Netanyahu poised to lose power to new government

The prospective government - an unprecedented coalition of parties - has a razor-thin majority of one seat.

It would also end more than two years of political paralysis in which three elections resulted in stalemate.

Right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett is poised to become PM in a power-sharing deal with a centrist leader.

Under the coalition agreement, Mr Bennett, who heads the Yamina party, will hold office until September 2023, when he will hand over to Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid, for a further two years.

Vanuatu manufacturers receive grant project from Government

The project grant initiative is an implementation of the National Industrial Policy to elevate agro-based manufacturing industries to diversify and add value to their primary products for domestic and export markets.

It is a small grant from the Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic management as appropriated by Parliament to support Industry and cottage rural-based SMEs producers that have valid industrial permits.

Fiji opposition says govt evading being served with legal papers

SODELPA and the National Federation Party had 24 hours to serve all FijiFirst MPs with the legal papers as part of their action disputing last month's election results.

SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya said bailiffs had been trying to serve the papers on the MPs at the office of the Attorney General but had not been allowed in.

She said some of the MPs had spent the night in the offices and food had been supplied throughout the day.

Vanuatu Government leadership faces uphill battle

The document was deposited at the Office of the Clerk of Parliament today.

Leader of Opposition, Ishmael Kalsakau has confirmed that thirty Members of Parliament (MP) have signed the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

The Opposition bloc has given the Speaker of Parliament 7 days’ notice to debate the motion.

Among the signatories in the notice to the Speaker of Parliament are two GJP parliamentarians and one VP parliamentarian who have joined the Opposition bloc.

Vanuatu opposition won't rule out attempt at no confidence motion

The loss of the Leaders Party's eight MPs on Wednesday means the government of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai only has a one seat majority.

Mr Kalsakau would not be drawn on how many MPs now support him, saying he is more interested in building a perfect team.

He said he could either develop a strong opposition which will support him until the election in January 2020, or push for a vote of no confidence.