Vanuatu

The top award also adds to their winning entries into the World Cocoa of Excellence competition in France, where two of their four entries were placed in the top 50 cocoa producers – in the World!

It is a major achievement for ACTIV Association who have had a very busy year, entering competitions and at the same time rebranding and repackaging their chocolate.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazard Department (VMGD) is appealing to the public to prepare for the season.

Possible impacts coupled with current forecast for weak La Niña event can have adverse impacts (extreme rainfall periods and strong winds), on the livelihood of the public. 

The 2016-17 South Pacific tropical cyclone season (November to April) was the least active since 2011-12, and one of the quietest on record with only four cyclones occurring east of 160°E. Vanuatu experienced 2 tropical cyclones in the past season, TC Donna in May and TC Cook in April.  

Council President Vidhya Lakhan and CEO Andrew Minogue attended a joint meeting of the Van2017 Pacific Mini Games Authority, chaired by the Minister of Sport, Seule Simeon, and the Games Organising Committee, where the final Games delivery plans and arrangements were approved.

Mr Lakhan also received a briefing from Van2017 CEO Clint Flood.

He was very pleased with the state of preparations and said all stakeholders have worked together to deliver the sporting venues and operational plans on schedule.

The handover took place at the National Disaster Management Office headquarters yesterday.

Territory Manager, Krishneel Lingam said that, “on behalf of Nestle Fiji, CJ Patel (Pacific) Ltd and Viti Foods Ltd, we are happy to provide relief assistance to the Ambae volcano victims who are now being repatriated back to their home island.”

According to a report on Yumi Tok Tok Stret, the donation comprised 200 cartons of Maggi Noodles and 150 cartons of Angel Gold Fiji Mackerel which are the favorite household brands for noodles and canned fish.

The Vanuatu government on Thursday ended the state of emergency with the 11,000 people evacuated from Ambae 3 weeks ago now back on the island.

A provincial disaster official, Manuel Ure, said people are mostly happy to be back but they remained reliant on food and water supplies from the government.

He said many open water sources around the island were contaminated by ash.

Minister of Home Affairs Alfred Maoh says the best news to all drivers on the island is that the fuel price has now dropped to the same price in Port Vila.

The Nikoletan Council of Chiefs of Tanna and Tafea Provincial Government Authorities thanked Pacific Energy for recognising the need for fuel facilities on Tanna.

Pacific Energy's Albery Moux said his company set up the facilities and would continue to provide fuel but the ownership and management of all stations are 100 percent owned by locals.

Geology and Mines Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the Government would control the repatriation process, which is expected to take just three days.

The first repatriations started on Saturday, he said, adding that the highly-managed process will be under the command of the police.

“The Government will move people from the evacuation centres in the host communities where they are to the wharves,” Regenvanu said.

The boats are returning people from evacuation centres on Santo, Pentecost and Maewo.

Authorities have arranged ships to repatriate the residents.

According to veteran Vanuatu journalist Moses Stevens, Government officers, National Disaster Management Office, police and representatives of other organisations involved were deployed to Ambae on Saturday before the repatriation process started yesterday.   

The officials were sent ahead to ensure a controlled and well-coordinated return of the people of Ambae.

The MV Aganda transported more than 200 people back to Ambae.

Support from Pacific countries played a part in Australia's election to the 47-seat body last week.

Vanuatu's parliamentary secretary responsible for international development co-operation, Jonny Koanapo congratulated Australia, saying it was important that it had a voice on the council.

"There's also the obligation that the Australian representative on the human rights council needs to also take on board the views and different perspectives on human rights issues that have been raised by Pacific Island countries."

This applies also to tourists that visit the Pacific, according to the Hilton (2014) survey of travellers which says that 36 percent of tourists interviewed chose their holiday destination based on food and drinks on offer.

Vanuatu is the only country in the Pacific with an agri-tourism policy that recognises the link between agriculture and tourism. Its focus is on growing more local produce and encouraging hotels and restaurants to use local foods on their menu in the hope that it will eventually decrease their fresh food import bill.