Vanuatu

The Movement is to use the Port Vila summit to evaluate its first three years, establish by-laws, elect executive members and discuss future strategy.

Its secretary-general Octo Mote said the major Papuan representative groups which make up the Movement would be present.

"This time everybody is here, not like last time when many of them were stuck in Papua New Guinea. No, everybody is here. In terms of persons that are participating, this is very successful, from the representation."

Octo Mote said he hoped to be re-elected.

The Movement is to use the Port Vila summit to evaluate its first three years, establish by-laws, elect executive members and discuss future strategy.

Its secretary-general Octo Mote said the major Papuan representative groups which make up the Movement would be present.

"This time everybody is here, not like last time when many of them were stuck in Papua New Guinea. No, everybody is here. In terms of persons that are participating, this is very successful, from the representation."

Octo Mote said he hoped to be re-elected.

In a formal ceremony, Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said that transport is a critical component in the organization of the Games.

“I thank the Government of Vanuatu for supporting the Games; it’s been six years that the people of Vanuatu have been waiting for this Games and now time is very short, as we have to go operational next week.   

Pacific Games Council CEO Clint Flood says schools have been fitted with 1,600 beds, chefs are on standby to cook for up to 1,000 people a day and China has provided 25 buses for transportation.

Flood says it is also symbolic that the Queen's Baton Relay carrying the Queen's message for the Commonwealth Games will pass through the Pacific Mini Games.

Netball, tennis, ​table​ ​tennis, ​ beach​ ​volleyball, ​archery,​ boxing​ ​and​ ​karate are all on the schedule at the Korman Stadium.​

Other​ ​activities​ on offer during the day ​include​ ​a​ ​mini​ ​kids​ ​fun​ ​zone, ​ giveaways and​ ​prizes, ​ ​food stalls​ ​and​ a ​chance​ ​to​ ​meet​ the Games' mascots, while a music festival will take place in the evening.

Team Tonga Chef de Mission 'Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, who is also a member of TASANOC's Executive Committee, said the government only told them last Wednesday it would pay for the flight, which is scheduled to leave on Thursday.

He said the original payment deadline from Air Vanuatu has since passed but the airline have kept the door open while they wait to hear from the government.

"But they've also been negotiating how we're going to do this payment and we're still waiting for the confirmation and the letter from government that they are going to do that," he said.

The kava plant – Piper methysticum – only grows in the south Pacific islands, with each one producing different varieties according to growing conditions, soil and climate, much like the different varieties of tea, coffee or wine.

The sedative brew is made from the roots of the kava plant, a member of the pepper family. As a drink it looks like muddy water and has a bitter aftertaste, but it is popular in the islands for its relaxing, narcotic properties.

This was after receiving the go-ahead by the Vanuatu government-led emergency committee, for a period of five weeks.

Speaking during the training session ahead of the launch of the programme, Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock highlighted the power of football in a community.

He said football is about taking messages beyond the pitch to children and families.

Vanuatu will enter ICC WCL Div 4 for the first time in 2018 after previously making it to Division 5 on three separate occasions in 2008, 2016 & 2017. 

The date for the event has been slated for Saturday the 28th April to Saturday the 5th of May 2018.

Salwai said that commitment should begin at the level of leaders, political leaders up to the community level and in the villages.

He made the comments at Penama Day celebrations in Port Vila over the weekend.

After the speech, there were many people from Penama who attended the parade that started at the Independence Park passing through the city center and ends at the Saralana Park.

Salwai said there are a lot of people from Penama in Port Vila and there were not many people who attended the parade on Saturday to mark the birth of the province of Penama.