Government

The Prime Minister said he had written to the State Law Office and speaker of parliament for clarification of the Deputy Prime Minister Joe Natuman's status after he was given a suspended two-year jail sentence.

Mr Salwai challenged the leader of opposition, Ishmael Kalsakau and his deputy, Sato Kilman, to take the matter to court instead of questioning the credibility of the office of the prime minister.

The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is facing a vote of no confidence in parliament next week, after a series of defections from the government.

Mr Sogavare on Thursday announced moves to consolidate his coalition government, announcing eight new ministers.

But in a statement, the opposition group said that consolidation had included attempts at bribery.

It accuses the forestry minister Bradley Tovosia of trying to bribe MP Alfred Ghiro with cash and the fisheries portfolio, which he rejected.

Sonia Backes of the Caledonian Republicans suggested that the rival anti-independence groups in Congress choose another presidential candidate than Philippe Germain, given his repeated rejection.

Mr Germain has failed twice in two months to secure a majority among the 11 ministers making up the government when they met to elect a president.

Ms Backes said a more conciliatory person needs to be presented as a candidate, suggesting another minister Bernard Deladriere.

She said furthermore there have to be changes to the government's economic policies.

In a consultation meeting on Wednesday 12th July 2017 at the National Convention Centre in Port Vila, Van2017 CEO Clint Flood gave his opening remark by stating that the Pacific Mini Games is nearly at our doorstep, with 144 days to go.

Mr Flood pointed out that the Vanuatu Government has made its commitment financially and Van2017 has commitments operationally to deliver for this Games.

He made the statement during a custom reconciliation held last week in the Prime Minister’s office between him, his Public Utilities and Infrastructure Minister and leader of the Leaders Party Jotham Napat and Joe Natuman as the leader of the Vanua’aku Party.

He said their meeting, Napat performed a custom reconciliation for his comments as a State Minister opposing the government’s consultation on income tax that threw intention on a possibility of a reshuffle within the government.

RNZ reports the Ministerial Budget Committee has rejected the decentralisation policy despite the Minister of Internal Affairs, Alfred Maoh, having it endorsed by the Council of Ministers.

The policy calls for Area Councils to be allocated annual budgets of $US93,000 dollars each.

The Prime Minister had highlighted the new budget allocation in his national address to mark the country's 36 years of independence earlier this year.

This is the first time Charlot Salwai's government has shown any signs of disunity.

Pablic Relesen Ofisa blong Gavman, Hilaire Bule i mekem toktok ya folem ol coment we Mr Ishmael Kalsakau ibin mekem abot Vanuatu Registri Seves (VRS).

Bule i talem se long saed blong isiu blong VRS, Mr Kalsakau, hemi no should mislidim ol pipol mo kuestenem se 50% blong mani blong VRS, hemi go wea?

Prime Minister Sato Kilman has been meeting with the opposition for weeks to try and resolve a political impasse, which began after 14 government MPs were last month jailed for bribery.

The President, Baldwin Lonsdale, had set Sunday as the deadline for the impasse to be resolved, but he is yet to announce any action.

However, the speaker has now called parliament to sit on the 14th of December to pass a budget.