Vanuatu

Vanuatu President election moves to round 4

After a third round of voting this afternoon, the electoral college has not been able to elect a new president.

None of the candidates secured the two-thirds majority required.

Chief Justice Vincent Lunabeck, who is also the Returning Officer for the election, has directed that voting take place at 9am tomorrow, Thursday July 6, 2017.

A total of 16 names have been nominated for the position which was left vacant with the passing away of President Baldwin Lonsdale a fortnight ago.

Vanuatu PM revisits Korman building site

Construction of the new buildings commenced in June 2016 by Chinese company CCECC that is contracted by the Vanuatu Government.

The newly built complex features 2  buildings - a main gymnasium and  small gymnasium with a combined seating capacity of 1400 seats  to cater for  indoor disciplines such as Judo, Karate, Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Netball - and outdoor facilities to cater for sports such as , Tennis, , Beach Volleyball, Athletics, Football, Rugby Sevens and  Archery.

Vanuatu govt aims for constitutional reform this year

The proposed amendments would change the rules around no confidence motions and rules which could potentially change the way parties contest elections.

RNZI reports the government needs a two thirds majority to pass the proposed amendments.

The deputy prime minister, Joe Natuman, says the government has the numbers and is working on making the proposed changes a reality.

Vanuatu President election heads into round 2

Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek declared that voting is to continue on Wednesday morning after the first round was conducted this morning.

In the first round former Prime Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman led by 9 votes.

Lui Patu Lavuko and Solomon Lawrence got six votes each.

The successful candidate must gain more than 39 or two-thirds majority of votes from the 58-member electoral college.

The election is being held to replace President Baldwin Lonsdale who passed away late last month.

 

Photo Yout Tube: Voting for Vanuatu President 

Vanuatu’s defending champion Warawara reaches Oceania Boxing Championships final

The Rio 2016 Olympian was in fine form, as he beat New Zealand’s Keegan O'Kane to advance to the gold medal contest.

He will face the challenge of Sam Goodman, with the Australian having overcome Noki Beupu of Papua New Guinea in his semi-final bout.

Nauru’s Colan Caleb and New Zealand’s Richard Hadlow will clash in the light-welterweight final, with the pair having beaten Papua New Guinea’s John Ume and Tonga’s Fineasi Tuipulotu respectively.

Fiji will boast one fighter in tomorrow’s finals, with Winston Hill having advanced in the men’s welterweight.

25th Chinese naval escort taskforce visits Vanuatu

The guided-missile frigates Hengyang and Yulin entered the Port Vila Harbor at around 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, while the comprehensive supply ship Honghu of the taskforce docked in the water off Port Vila due to berth restrictions of the harbor.

The Vanuatu side and the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu held a grand welcoming ceremony for the visiting Chinese naval escort taskforce. Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu and Chinese ambassador to Vanuatu Liu Quan joined people to welcome the visiting Chinese naval ships at the dock.

The woman behind Oils of Paradise

Hers is a story of hope for women in the Pacific and reminds us all that despite negative circumstances, one can make a different choice to turn one’s life around.

Suspects to appear in Vanuatu court for allegedly throwing baby out of bus

The alleged incident has sparked outrage with members of the public taking to social media to call for authorities to set up an orphanage.

The Family Protection Unit of the Vanuatu Police Force is investigating the case.

The 23-month old baby boy was allegedly thrown out of a bus near a supermarket in Port Vila.

Police say they have arrested the toddler’s father and a woman.

According to statements from the 2 suspects and the child’s mother, there are two separate stories about the exact incident that happened.

Decline in visitor arrivals to Vanuatu in March quarter 2017

According to the Vanuatu National Statistics Office, the decrease was reflected in the drop in the cruise ship visitors to the country.

Visitor arrivals by air made up 23% of all international visitors with a total of 20, 923 in the March quarter 2017.

This indicated an increase of 24% over the same period in 2016. However, this fell over the previous quarter.

Half of the tourists who arrived by air were Australians.

Cause of crash involving 3 Vanuatu men under investigation

Police believe the trio and two others had earlier visited the El Arish Tavern and may have travelled south to Tully before heading back north when their mini-van collided with the B-double just after 2am on Saturday.

It occurred just near the Diggers Creek caravan park where they had been staying.

Cairns Post reports consular officials are understood to be still trying to reach the Vanuatu-based family of the men, who are aged between late 20s and early 40s, although police confirmed they had spoken with a cousin of one of them who lives in Australia.