Charlot Salwai

The court of Wednesday committed Mr Salwai, two former ministers and a former MP to stand trial next month.

Daniel Yawah said Wednesday's decision was not a surprise.

All were facing corruption and bribery charges while Mr Salwai had also been charged with perjury.

The charges stem from a complaint by former opposition leader and now deputy prime minister, Ishmael Kalsakau.

Kalsakau claimed that in November 2016, the defendants bribed MPs to sign an ultimately failed motion of no confidence.

But Yawah was confident they would beat the charges.

Mr Salwai will appear on 1st September alongside former cabinet ministers, Matai Seremaiah and Jerome Ludvaune as well as former Tafea Outer MP Tom Korr.

If they plead not guilty there will be trial.

Mr Salwai has also been charged with perjury.

This morning a senior magistrate declared she was satisfied there is prima facie case for the four defendants to answer before the Supreme Court.

The current Minister of Education and Training, Seule Simeon, was also originally a defendant but charged were dropped after he became a prosecution witness.

Vanuatu politics has been plagued by regular motions and changes, with the previous Charlot Salwai-led government the first to survive a full term in more than a decade.

That government tried to pass a range of constitutional reforms to bring stability, though it fell short on many.

Ralph Regenvanu said he won't attempt to move a motion while the government faces the rebuild from Cyclone Harold and the coronavirus pandemic.

But he told Buzz FM he would still like to see reforms.

The Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, is today launching the anniversary celebrations at the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation.

His spokesperson, Kiery Manasseh, said the theme for the anniversary is 'Prosperity For Self Reliance And a Resilient Future.'

He said the government wants to get as many people involved as possible.

“New Zealand and Vanuatu have a long history of close friendship. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Salwai here and discussing further opportunities to strengthen the relationship between our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said.

The relationship between the two countries is underpinned by the successful Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, tourism links and shared regional interests.

Currently, the size of the cabinet can not exceed a quarter of the number of MPs.

However, Mr Salwai wants this to be increased to a third, which means cabinet can be increased from 13 to 17 ministers.

Vanuatu's parliament is to have a special sitting tomorrow to debate the required constitutional amendment.

Tess Newton Cain of TNC Pacific Consulting said Mr Salwai's ostensible reason for the expansion is that some ministers have been assigned too many portfolios, and they need to be divided up to be more manageable.

Public Relations Offisa long Ofis blong Praim Minista, Hilaire Bule hem se sapos media i laekim tru stori long helt blong praim minista, ol i shud toktok long dokta or ofis blong praim Minista - na ino spredim giaman stori.

Mr Bule hem se, Mr Salwai no bin go longn Noumea long getem medikol checkap, hem go fo hiliday an taem hem stap long we - hem getem normal medical checkap.

Hem se Praim Minista Salwai hem no paralais long wnsaet long face blong hem and no save toktok gut olsem media ibin ripotim.

PM Salwai met with Director-General UNESCO Irina Bokova last week and expressed his gratitude for the support that Vanuatu got from the organization after it was hit by hurricane in 2015. 

With 25% of the national budget allocated to education, Mr Salwai indicated that the priority focus fell on the extension of free education up to the tenth year of schooling, as well as on improving curricula for a multilingual system, and also teacher training.

The motion has been submitted by the opposition bloc and a vote has been scheduled to be held in parliament next Wednesday.

The Daily Post newspaper said the speaker had ruled the motion in order with 31 signatures on it, but it is unclear whose signatures are on it.

However, the government has also spent the day maneuvering, reportedly announcing a series of new appointments in an attempt to shore up its support.

Parliament will sit today at 2pm, local time.

Salwai was nominated by MP Joe Natuman and seconded by MP Ham Lini. There was no contender from the caretaker side, but according to parliamentary rules, members had to elect him through secret ballot.

There was applause inside parliament when Speaker announced after counting that “Salwai as duly elected prime minister of Vanuatu”. He was voted in with 46 votes. Five votes were void.

Now serving his fifth term as a Member of Parliament for Pentecost, Mr Salwai has had a colorful political career.