Parole board

President Lonsdale’s statement was made after local media reported that the parole requests of incarcerated political leaders have been submitted to the Parole Board for consideration.

“I am urging the Parole Board to do a thorough assessment of all detainees in Port Vila and in Luganville in order to ensure that all the inmates who meet the parole requirements must have their requests processed and submitted to the Parole Board for consideration.

While the remaining 11 are not due for parole for some time, former prime ministers Moana Carcasses and Serge Vohor, along with former MP Steve Kalsakau, have applied because they have served half their sentences.

It will be up to the Parole Board to decide if the applications are successful.

The editor of the Vanuatu Independent newspaper Tony Wilson told Pacific Beat their possible release is likely to ruffle some feathers within the current government.

Pistorius' family said in a statement Thursday that they had taken note of the date but would not comment further.

The double-amputee runner was denied early release last week after serving 10 months of his five-year manslaughter sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. 

The justice department said then the decision to release the Olympian to house arrest was taken too early.

Department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga says Pistorius' release will have to be reviewed again because he was approved to be moved to house arrest too early.

Mthunzi says Pistorius should have served 10 months of his sentence before being considered for release. He was approved for parole in June, eight months into his sentence.