Vanuatu founder rails against passport sales

The sale of Vanuatu passports to foreigners means the country's struggle for independence was worth nothing, the first president of Vanuatu, Ati George Sokomanu, says.

His comment follows revelations that more than 4000 Vanuatu passports have been sold to foreigners under the citizenship program.

Under the programme, foreigners can pay to become honorary citizens of Vanuatu which entitles them to hold passports.

Mr Sokomanu called on the government to find other means of generating income, to stop passport sales and to move away from being a tax haven.