Vanuatu

Commissioner Albert Nalpini told the Daily Post newspaper that he had the man drive him home from a function and on the return journey the driver is believed to have hit the pole.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Andrew Napuat, said he was still waiting for a police report on the accident.

The minister said no one is above the law and the law must be allowed to take its course.

Ralph Regenvanu said the audit would also examine ways of reducing plastic use, recycling and alternative materials.

It followed the first stage of a ban this month on single-use plastic shopping bags, polystyrene takeaway boxes and plastic straws.

Mr Regenvanu said Foreign Affairs was the lead agency on this as it forms part of the National Oceans Policy.

He said the ultimate goal is to eliminate all single-use plastics going into the ocean.

Maltock said Sope will leave a large hole in the football landscape following years of tireless work in football development and with the OFC Just Play Programme.

“Emmie has always been incredibly passionate not just about progressing football, but in helping develop the people on the ground in our communities across the Pacific.

The PEOC’s were funded by the EU through the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) Project, with a total cost of €700,000. Each centre is built to facilitate three or more National Disaster Management Officers and it is fully equipped with the necessary technologies and ability to send and receive real-time disaster information.

Vanuatu's Natuman to appeal seat being made vacant

Mr Natuman was convicted on two counts of perverting the course of justice and given a two-year suspended sentence.

The Daily Post newspaper said based on this ruling the speaker declared Mr Natuman's Tanna electorate seat vacant.

Mr. Natuman's appeal is among 26 appeal cases, to be heard from next week.

Another includes former members of parliament jailed for conspiring to defeat the course of justice.

Justice Oliver Saksak says the company has the power to dismiss a member of staff for serious misconduct, only if there is no other course to take.

He ruled that Jacklyne Sese, who had worked for the company for 16 years, and Susan Noel, who had worked for nine years, had not been treated fairly.

Tehy were awarded about $US11,000 and $US6,000 respectively.

The ruling was welcomed by other cleaners who told the Daily Post newspaper that it proved the law was applicable at all levels of society.

Justice Richard Chetwynd said support is needed to help victims, especially in a small community.

Mr Chetwynd said sometimes it's difficult to consider a victim's testimony when they hesitate to give evidence.

The Daily Post reported that all three suspects pleaded not guilty, claiming the victim gave her consent.

The victim was allegedly abducted, raped then killed by her attacker, an inmate on parole.

Police said the suspect is also believed to be responsible for a number of other outstanding serious criminal cases.

In the current matter before court the suspect is alleged to have abducted the victim from her house at night before raping and killing her.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, the girl's body was discovered over a kilometre away from the family home by a close relative.

Both the suspect and victim are from Tanna.

Jenny Ligo's comments come after a gathering of the Vanuatu Widows' Association last week on the 23rd of June for International Widows' Day.

Mrs Ligo, who is the head of Vanuatu Women Against Crime and Corruption, says widows are often ignored and need to be valued for their contribution to society.

She told Amelia Langford she wants to see the Vanuatu government, and community leaders, take a more proactive approach to supporting widows, including more financial help.

Women's rights advocate, Jenny Ligo, says the marginalisation of widows is a worldwide issue.

Australia and Vanuatu share a long history and strong economic links; over 50 per cent of Vanuatu’s tourists are from Australia and over recent years there are an increasing number of Vanuatu products that have successfully entered the Australian market and investment into Vanuatu from Australian investors.