Vanuatu

The court ruled the Prime Minister has the powers to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries under the Constitution.

Opposition Leader, Ishmael Kalsakau and Opposition MPs filed a constitutional case last month challenging the validity of the PS positions, saying they have no legal basis and have wasted millions of public monies.

Outside the courthouse on Monday, Kalsakau said his lawyer will go through the judgement before they decide what further action they would take.

“We will read the judgment before we go to the Court of Appeal.”

Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) said at the current state, the volcanic activity is likely to increase at any time but it could also remain at the same level for a longtime.

The Danger Zone for life safety is limited to on the island.

VMGD said current observations and analysis of seismic activity recorded from the monitoring network confirm a continuing high unrest volcanic activity in Level 2. The activity continues to occur in the active craters near the summit crater and consists of ongoing emissions of steam and other gases.

The Daily Post reports Vanua'aku Pati MP Tom Noam, who is from Tanna, has now resigned from the post.

Over the weekend Johnny Koanapo, from the same party and island, also resigned.

Their decision is seen as laying a challenge to the remaining secretaries from other political parties, including within the government, to make a decision ahead of a Supreme Court ruling due on Monday.

The legal case has been lodged by the opposition leader, Ishmael Kalsakau, a former attorney general.

The review was applied for by the lawyer of the former police commissioner, Albert Nalpini, who was fired in April.

Mr Nalpini's lawyer says the commission's decision to sack his client was biased, and Mr Nalpini has the right to seek legal clarification of his dismissal before a replacement is appointed.

The statement corroborates witness accounts from 101 migrants who said they were promised jobs, only to be tortured and enslaved.

Their alleged captors have since been detained and face hundreds of charges in Vanuatu, including human trafficking.

An IOM spokesperson said the organisation is now providing bi-weekly food rations to the victims - many of whom refuse to return home.

The spokesperson said it's working with Vanuatu's government to assist in a voluntary return of the migrants.

The peer review will assist the Government of Vanuatu in their final VNR preparations ahead of presentation of the Report at the High-Level Political Forum on SDGs at the United Nations in July, while also identifying key lessons and best practices for sharing with other Pacific countries. 

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, welcomed the team and noted his support for the inclusive nature of the VNR process.

The Pacific premier will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang during his first official visit to the Asian giant starting on May 26, according to China’s foreign ministry.

China’s footprint in the Pacific region has been growing in the past decade. Pacific governments now owe about $1.3 billion in concessional debt to China, raising fears in the West that the region was becoming more susceptible to Beijing’s diplomatic pressure and unsustainable debt burdens.

Salwai and his delegation saw employees in their working environment in the early morning visit this week.

The workers are employed under the Recognised Seasonal Workers (RSE) scheme.

Many of the workers were excited to meet PM Salwai for the first time.

Accompanied by Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat, the visit to New Zealand also included meetings with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister, Iain Lees-Galloway.

Mr Salwai is making his second official visit to New Zealand with a government delegation that includes Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat.

Prior to the bilateral talks, Mr Salwai said Vanuatu greatly valued its strategic partnership with New Zealand's government as an important development partner and a genuine friend.

During the handover the redeveloped project Friday, Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Solomon Napuat urged the municipal council not to take its role light.

Napuat thanked the New Zealand government and other stakeholders for their generous support to the redevelopment of the park.

"The Government of Vanuatu, Port Vila residents and visitors from abroad expect proper maintenance of the seafront and the Ministry is happy to note that a Seafront Management Plan is in place to guide the overall management of the precinct,” he said.