Vanuatu MP

Plans by the opposition to remove the Speaker of Parliament, Seoule Simon, failed at an extraordinary parliament session on Tuesday.

The opposition lodged a motion last Friday after their no-confidence vote against the government was defeated on a technicality on what constitutes an "absolute majority" in the House.

The special parliament sitting on Tuesday was for MPs to debate 11 bills introduced by the government.

However, the government only had 23 MPs on its side, and was forced to withdraw all the bills.

Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed and a prominent independence campaigner arrested while internet has been cut following the death of a high ranking military general.

Regenvanu said Pacific Island countries must now ramp up pressure on Indonesia to allow a visit by the UN Human Rights High Commissioner to assess the situation there.

“What we're getting is two sides of a story, we need to get an independent assessment of what's happening,” he said.

The group of 170 had been due to leave tomorrow but on Friday the government cancelled its farewell ceremony, with cabinet minister Bruno Leingkon saying the Council of Ministers had not yet approved the pilot programme.

But Ambrym MP and agent, John Salong, said Vanuatu was one of just two nations, alongside East Timor, chosen for this pilot project, and that the government should not delay the workers' departure.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports Jay Ngwele resigned on 10 January in order to receive his gratuity payment before 22 January.

Mr Ngwele said he intended to use the gratuity to help people in his electorate.

As a candidate in the next election, he would be prevented by law from doing this, if the gratuity was paid after the term ended.

Mr Ngwele said people on Ambae were still struggling to cope with the impact of their island's volcanic eruptions.

Its population of about 11,000 was evacuated in 2017 and again in 2018, to nearby islands.

Parliament's Speaker, Seoule Simeon, has ruled that Gracia Shadrack, MP for Malekula, should lose his seat for missing three consecutive sittings.

The Daily Post reports that Mr Shadrack, an Opposition MP, is to challenge the decision in court.

The Opposition claims that Mr Shadrack had been absent for medical reasons.

It claims that a letter explaining this was provided to parliamentary staff and should have reached the Speaker's office.

Parliament's Speaker, Seoule Simeon, has ruled that Gracia Shadrack, MP for Malekula, should lose his seat for missing three consecutive sittings.

The Daily Post reports that Mr Shadrack, an Opposition MP, is to challenge the decision in court.

The Opposition claims that Mr Shadrack had been absent for medical reasons.

It claims that a letter explaining this was provided to parliamentary staff and should have reached the Speaker's office.

Mr Ngwele said it is likely a foreign company operating in north east Efate is responsible.

He is calling on the authorities to confirm the culprit and penalize the company, saying the beetle is having a field day destroying the coconut plantations and there is nothing done to stop its onslaught.

The Daily Post reported the director general of agriculture, Moses Amos, saying his office has neither the manpower nor the funds to fight the beetle.

The government has allocated $US447,000 to deal with the pest but Mr Ngele said this is not enough.

The French navy vessel D'Entrecasteaux was not allowed to anchor at Aneityum this week.

The Tafea MP, Tomker Netvunei, took issue with a Foreign Affairs officials stopping the vessel and delivering building materials for a classroom complex for Teruja Secondary School and a medical clinic on Aneityum.

The Daily Post reported Mr Netvunei saying the Matthew and Hunter issue cannot be used as a bargaining tool where aid assistance might be threatened.

The Port Vila MP was due to appear for sentencing yesterday, after he was earlier convicted on tax charges.

The Daily Post reported that as manager of Parts Plus South Pacific, he had refused to pay the tax since December 2010.

His non-appearance means Seule risks having his bail revoked.

RNZ reports Andrew Solomon Napuat the Member of Parliament for Tanna constituency was among 40 Pacific parliamentarians in New Zealand last week for the Pacific Parliamentary Forum.

Mr Napuat said what he found particularly intriguing about New Zealand's parliament was its recognition and engagement with Maori and Pasifika peoples.

He said Pacific parliaments should emulate New Zealand and establish closer connections with rural communities.

"This is something that we should encourage and it is my hope that future politicians continue to treasure this."