Vanuatu

The Action Plan focuses on the increasing 'made in Vanuatu 'products to meet the demanding tourism market.

It's to be run in partnership with the Australian aid-funded Vanuatu Skills Partnership Programme, and the government of New Zealand, through the Vanuatu Tourism Strategic Action Plan.

The Daily Post Newspaper said that annually visitors spend $US12 million on souvenirs from Vanuatu but 90 percent of them are imported products.

The objective of the Action Plan is to gradually phase out all imported products with 100 percent made in Vanuatu products.

They were among a group of 14 MPs who were jailed on bribery and corruptions charges in 2015.

The men are Marcellino Pipite, Silas Yatan, John Amos, Tony Nari, Jonas James and Thomas Laken.

After being found guilty of the bribery charges in 2015, Pipite, who was speaker of parliament, used his temporary powers as acting president to pardon himself and the others.

That decision was subsequently overturned by the president, Baldwin Lonsdale, and ten of the group, as well as a lawyer, were later found guilty of conspiring to defeat the course of justice.

Yesterday, the speaker ruled the motion was in order, opening the floor for the challenge.

The motion carries the signatures of nine opposition MPs, listing eight acts they say have allowed the prime minister's office to be called into question.

It says proposed constitutional amendments have been poorly considered and consulted.

It says the government's endorsement of income tax and the PACER Plus trade agreement were also poorly consulted and threaten the livelihoods of ni-Vanuatu and the wider economy.

Yesterday, the speaker ruled the motion was in order, opening the floor for the challenge.

The motion carries the signatures of nine opposition MPs, listing eight acts they say have allowed the prime minister's office to be called into question.

It says proposed constitutional amendments have been poorly considered and consulted.

It says the government's endorsement of income tax and the PACER Plus trade agreement were also poorly consulted and threaten the livelihoods of ni-Vanuatu and the wider economy.

Success hosted an official function, which welcomed local dignitaries onboard to celebrate the strong bilateral relationship shared by Australia and Vanuatu and mark the 25th anniversary of the FRANZ partnership.

The regulator, Kembro Manderson, said a survey had been carried out by the Department of Fisheries which discovered five non-native marine species in Port Vila harbour.

Mr Manderson said his office was concerned that more non-native marine species may have been introduced since it had been set in 2017

Mr Manderson said there was a risk that such non-native species may be harmful to Vanuatu's marine life.

The Vanuatu Football Federation President was elected to the position during the Congress which was held on Monday 11 June in Moscow.

Maltock’s election also sees him become a FIFA Vice-President and he will take a seat on the FIFA Council alongside fellow OFC representatives Lee Harmon and Sandra Fruean.

Officials at the Speaker's office confirmed the motion had the required nine signatures and that if ruled in order would be debated on Tuesday June 19.

All of the signatories are opposition MPs.

In December last year Mr Salwai defeated a motion of no-confidence lodged against him by 37 votes to 13.

Hundreds of students have been relocated to schools on the two islands due to the recent devastating volcanic ash fall which destroyed all vegetation on Ambae island.

The Daily Post Newspaper said photographs have shown that the recent heavy rains have soaked their mattresses and exam papers in tents and classrooms which they also use for dormitories at night.

The National Disaster Management Office said relevant cluster groups were aware of the situation and were working with the Ministry of Education and Training to address it.

The Penama Council agreed to relocate its headquarters from Saatamaa in Eastern Ambae to Loltong in North Pentecost because of disruption from the natural disaster.

The Daily Post reported the advantage of the new site was that it is already public land.

The Penama Province is one of six in Vanuatu and included the three islands of Ambae, Maewo and Pentecost.

The volcano on Ambae has been erupting since September, but activity increased in April with ash and acid rain ruining crops and contaminating water supplies.