Vanuatu Government

The house sat following a Supreme Court ruling which confirmed a declaration of vacancies in most of the government member's seats in parliament.

Friday's ruling upheld a decision by the former Speaker of Parliament to expel 19 MPs including Prime Minister Bob Loughman from parliament.

A stay order on the court ruling has been granted while the government appeals, pending the outcome of which the MPs remain as MPs.

This morning when the 52-seat parliament convened, four government MPs joined the opposition, including the former Speaker, Gracia Shadrack.

It claimed that an afternoon court case it had sought, due to start at 3pm, precluded it from attending the parliament sitting.

The legal action is to try and force the Speaker, Gracia Shadrak, to allow a motion to have himself replaced as speaker.

The Bob Loughmann government wants Mr Shadrak gone after he allowed a vote of no confidence in the government, which he agreed to allow next Monday.

And Mr Shadrak says the motion for his removal can be heard at the same time.

The opposition accuses the government of excessive spending on self-interest in a time of national crisis.

The country's economy has been hammered by the loss of tourism caused by the pandemic and Cyclone Harold, which caused extensive damage a year ago.

The opposition also accuses the government of mismanaging scholarships and failing to discipline MPs.

The motion is expected to be debated next Monday, with the opposition needing the support of 27 members to change the government.

Spokesperson of the Ifira Council of Chiefs, Manuariki Pakoa Kaltonga, said the payment will be used for the construction of the Chiefs’ Farea Project and the rest will provide forms of income for the community at large in this difficult time.

“We have to understand that Ifira people, being the custodian land owners of Port Vila are unable to cultivate land for gardening. During this COVID-19 crisis we are productively stuck,” he said.

“One of the ways to boost economy is stimulate our own companies.”

 The UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji met virtually with representatives of the Vanuatu Government Wednesday to pursue “a new normal” partnership.

 The inaugural meeting focused on the reviewing progress of UNDP’s development agenda in Vanuatu. This was acknowledged by both teams as vital for maintaining the excellent partnership and ensuring business as usual in a changing world.

Minister of Finance and Economic and Economic Management, Johnny Koanapo Rasou said the government will be imposing some expenditure control measures.

“Therefore, given the increase expenditure trend to retreat and workshops, the government has decided to put a temporary freeze on retreats and workshops.”

Rasou adds the 2021 Budget has been finalised in line with the 2021 Budget Policy Statement and the Public Finance and Economic Management Act.

Finance minister Johnny Koanapo said the previous board committed to buy four A220s without considering the implications for taxpayers, who own the airline.

He told the Vanuatu Daily Post the new government has decided to only buy two of the aircraft, as it focuses mostly on domestic travel.

Vanuatu's borders have been closed to international travel since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

The decision was publicly announced yesterday with political leaders, chiefs and councilors during a convention held by the junction road at Ohlen Mataso.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau confirmed the construction of new concrete roads at Ohlen Mataso would commence in November, with hopes to be completed by December.

The government officials also met with members of the community from Agathis to announce the road upgrade, two weeks ago.

The jewellery - purchased from a Port Vila store - was reportedly bought on the minister of internal affair's instructions ahead of this year's independence celebrations.

The national co-ordinator of the 40th anniversary celebrations, Fred Samuel, told the Parliamentary Accounts Committee the funding was approved by the director-general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports the committee also heard the director general was acting on instruction from the minister of internal affairs, Andrew Napuat.

The workshop was led by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and attended by government officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) and the Ministry of Climate Change (MCCA), together with representatives of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The discussions were part of a Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project which aims at enhancing Vanuatu’s ability to seek accreditation and direct access to the GCF.