Vanuatu

The event is in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth & Sport Development, the SHEFA Provincial Government, the SHEFA Provincial Youth Council, Port Vila Municipal Youth Council and the Vanuatu National Youth Council.

The IYD is an international day designated by the United Nations and is observed annually on the 12th of August.

It is designed to be an opportunity for Government and youth stakeholders to draw attention on youth issues worldwide.

The Vanuatu Hockey Federation says participating countries are Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and the event will feature seniors and Vanuatu’s Under 18 national team.

Hockey Development Officer, Todd Kitto says this is an opportunity for Vanuatu players to show their hockey talent in the home crowd.

“Since Vanuatu is hosting the event, we see it as an opportunity for our Under 18 to take part as preparation towards their participation in the Youth Olympic in October in Argentina, though its a seniors competition,” Kitto stated.

In a letter to Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, the chairman of Vanuatu's Maraki Vanua Ariki Council of Chiefs, John Lee Solomon, said the Freedom Fighters had previously requested compensation for putting their lives on the line in the country's struggle for freedom.

Freedom fighters were a crucial element in any struggle for independence, Mr Solomon said.

The government should set up a commission of inquiry to determine whether some people from Tongoa and Tanna were genuine Freedom Fighters, and to settle the long running claim for compensation, Mr Solomon said.

Nikao village is one of four teams from Rarotonga competing in this year's cultural competitions. 

Vanuatu's Julian David joined the village team three years ago, while Alfie Ngire from the Solomon Islands came in six weeks ago. 

Both boys say they have enjoyed learning the cultural dances of their new homeland, but have made history for Melanesians who are a key part of the migrant worker community in the country.

Parts of both Vanuatu islands have been blanketed in ash from the latest eruption of the Manaro volcano on Ambae.

The government has a mandatory evacuation of the Ambaeans to Maewo, though some are choosing, at their own expense, to go to Santo or Port Vila.

Our Vanuatu correspondent Godwin Ligo, who works with the Daily Post, said water sources are all polluted with ash but in most villages there are households that have substantial water tanks and they are now selling their water.

The president of the West Ambae area council of chiefs, Moses Bakeo, said a meeting by the chiefs last week came up with resolutions to present to the government.

Moses Bakeo said they want the government to help their children go to school in Santo and not Maewo, taking into account that 10 months of disruption has already negatively impacted on their education.

The chiefs say going to Maewo instead would make it even worse for their children.

The government has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Ambae, where crops have been smothered and water supplies contaminated.

The government has reached an agreement with the nearby island of Maewo, where chiefs have agreed to accept the Ambaeans and set aside land.

But many Ambaeans want to go to Santo, the country's biggest island

The prime minister has said Ambaeans who wish to move to Santo or another island can do so but at their own cost.

The mob also burned down a house and vehicle used by villagers in the Middle Bush area.

The longstanding dispute turned violent after one of the parties cleared a garden on the contested land.

A meeting that was called by the chiefs could not resolve the issue and a fight broke out.

The Daily Post said police were rushed from Port Vila to Tanna where seven suspects were arrested including the victim.

Reports said tension is still high in the area and police have been deployed.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Johnny Koanapo, has expressed concern four sites prepared for the evacuees on Maewo are too expensive.

The chiefs told the Vanuatu Daily Post their people have allowed the northern end of their island to be inhabited by the people from Merelava island in Torba province and the southern end by people of north Pentecost at no cost.

However, the chiefs said that if essential services on Maewo were not available then it was up to the government to upgrade them.

Canberra said its assistance will help pay for evacuating the 10,000-strong population on commercial vessels.

The money will also be used to support the government and charities provide shelter, water, health and education to the evacuees and host communities on neighbouring Maewo.

The government said it was also providing further expertise to bolster the Vanuatu government's efforts to resettle people from Ambae.