Vanuatu

Malekula Adventist Junior Secondary School, Enekis Adventist Primary and Sise Adventist Primary have all introduced the Pathfinder program into their schools in the past year, with excellent results.

A 2018 report from Enekis, on the island of Tanna, showed that 181 of the 211 students enrolled in Pathfinder classes were from other faith backgrounds. Sise Adventist Primary, the only Adventist school on the island of Paama, currently has 70 students enrolled, with music classes one of the most popular Pathfinder activities.

“I support the move taken by the Vanuatu Civil Society Influencing Network and Advocates for Women in Parliament to have women in Parliament. The time is now. We need women in the development of our nation, Vanuatu”, said former President, Ati Sokomanu.

Ati Sokomanu officially opened the ‘Women Leaders National Strategic Dialogue and Training,’ which is being attended by more than 100 women leaders from across the country.

Vanuatu’s National Parliament is made up of 52 elected members, none of who are women.

A briefing by the National Financial Inclusion Council (NFIC) provided an update on financial inclusion achievements made in the past year.

The Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, includes ministers of key portfolios such as Tourism, Finance, Education and Agriculture and the Governor of Reserve Bank. 

Attendees heard about some of the new and upcoming innovative initiatives that are currently being tested and awaiting deployment in the market in the months to come.

Former MP Hilda Lini made the plea on behalf of the Vanuatu Civil Society Influencing Network.

She made the appeal to Antonio Guterres while he was in the country over the weekend, asking the UN's highest ranking official help Vanuatu "get the balance right of 50 percent women in parliament".

The group also stressed the importance of making sure colonised people in the Pacific, including West Papuans, Kanaks, Tahitians and South Maluku were decolonised.

On Saturday, members of the Silae Vanua Market Vendors Association (SVMVA) were able to share their experiences of how they are addressing such changes with the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, at the Port Vila Market, during his first official visit to Vanuatu.

Sekdah Somon and Buxoo Nabilah Bibi have been detained and face more than 300 charges over their alleged trafficking of dozens of Bangladeshi men.

A group of 101 migrants have been under state care in Port Vila since November and efforts are underway to repatriate them to Bangladesh.

The defendants' lawyer, Andrew Bal, filed to cease to act on their behalf last week.

The pair have told the Vanuatu High Court they are working to get a foreign counsel to represent them.

Without legal representation, a case hearing last Tuesday was postponed until tomorrow.

In a statement, the UN chief said climate change is now an existential threat to the Pacific countries. He called on all decision-makers around the world to show ‘enlightened self-interest’ because it is not only the Pacific that is at stake, it is the whole planet. He stressed that to save the Pacific is to save the whole planet.

During his visit, Guterres met with Tallis Obed Moses, President of Vanuatu. The two discussed the effects of climate change on the small island State and efforts being made to increase its resilience.

Professor Ahluwalia, who is in Vanuatu for the 88th Council meeting, thanked all staff for their contribution to the success of the University.

Staff were informed that apart from the revised New Strategic Plan (NSP) 2019-2024, he is seeking a revision of the vision, mission and value statements.

These he said, could be simplified for people to better understand it and also allow it to be uniquely Pacific, adding that education at USP should be more value-led.

In his welcome address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council, Mr Winston Thompson acknowledged the Prime Minister for availing himself to officiate over the opening of the meeting and addressing the Council members.

“The Council meets in member countries on a rotational basis once a year. It has met in Vanuatu before and it was a pleasure that the Council accepted the invitation by the Minister from Vanuatu to host this meeting this year,” said Mr Thompson.

USP Council is the highest decision-making body that meets to discuss the affairs of the University.

It's one of the cheapest international destination in the sale (only beaten by flights to Dunedin) and with return fares starting at $449 return.

Flights from Brisbane for $449 return, from Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide for $499 return and from Cairns for $649 return.

Flights are available between 10 June and 20 July 2019. And if people prefer to hold off a tad to organize or work on that holiday fund, flights are also available between 1 February and 7 March 2020.