Vanuatu

The sitting has been called by the Speaker Esmon Saimon on the advice of the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai who wants to amend the constitution to that end.

Currently, the size of the cabinet may not exceed a quarter of the number of parliamentarians.

However, Mr Salwai wants this to be increased to a third, which means cabinet can be increased from 13 to 17 ministers.

He said some ministers have been assigned too many portfolios.

The main theme for the field day is ‘'Planem tede, blong kat kakae mo mani tumoro”

The objective of the theme is to encourage people to increase production of their agricultural products, eat more local foods for a healthy living to avoid risk of None Communicable Diseases, (NCD).

Officers from DARD distributed planting materials to interested farmers and members of the public to continue planting of root crops to ensure food security at all times.

It is a significant festival where all the six provinces in Vanuatu will come together to showcase the beauty of diverse custom traditions.

The main theme of the festival is 'preserve, promote, protect cultural knowledge'.

The Vanuatu Cultural Center (VCC) confirmed that an awareness team led by Chief Owen Edwin is currently in Malekula to visit the six main villages of Malekula to create awareness and prepare villages for the festival.

The move has been announced in the Official Journal and approved by the French President Emmanuel Macron.

This comes a month after Mr Judes was summoned to the French foreign ministry in Paris following a complaint of sexual assault lodged against him in New Caledonia.

Mr Judes has rejected the allegations, saying there may a plot against him.

Investigations are continuing and judicial authorities in New Caledonia are reported as saying that Mr Judes cannot invoke diplomatic immunity.

Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Seule Simon expressed his warm greetings on behalf of the Government and people of Vanuatu to the Kiribati delegation.

Mr Simon said his office is always welcome to meet visitors and counterparts to discuss how he as minister can develop sports and youth development in the country.

He added that he is also interested in expanding his network regionally and internationally.
Mr Nenem thanked Mr Simon for meeting his delegation and congratulated the Vanuatu Government for successfully hosting the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

The delegation led by Executive Officer (EO) Henry Bill, also discussed preparations for the National games in May.

Mr Henry confirmed that he was happy to meet with the LOC to check list what they are expecting to be in place by now as part of the preparations towards the games.

He said the stadium itself looks promising and few of the sports court need few renovations before the opening of the games in May.

Vanuatu Volleyball President Debbie Masaufakalo was on hand to receive the Women and Sport Award for Oceania, in recognition of the organisation's advocacy and leadership in promoting girls and women's participation in sport at all levels.

The IOC said the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation has been recognising the transformational power of sport to prompt social change.

Despite a sunny day in Port Moresby on Wednesday, the ground at Amini Park remained too wet underfoot, following the effects of Cyclone Trevor.

Hosts Papua New Guinea were scheduled to play both Vanuatu and the Philippines on day one of competition.

Vanuatu Cricket CEO Shane Deitz said all three teams are playing a waiting game at the moment and the best case scenario is for matches to get underway on Friday.

"The square looks reasonably dry - there's also an artificial pitch we might be able to play on," he said.

The claim was made in an article published by The Australian on 12 March 2019.

The government said whilst the media feel at liberty to publish anything for anything, it wants to inform the general public that the recent publication on Vanuatu-China relation is basically orchestrated by media outlets to tarnish enduring strategic partnership relation between the two countries.

Demolition of the Dumbea Hall has began and is expected to last a month before work starts on the French Development Agency (AFD) funded project which should be complete around April 2020.

On Tuesday the Lord Mayor of Port Vila, Albert Daniel and Deputy Mayor of Dumbea City in New Caledonia with delegations from AFD, the French Ambassador, the SIC (building company), Port Vila Municipal, unveiled the display board to announce the start of  construction.