Traditional Leaders

Vanuatu traditional leaders call for Macron to address islands dispute

The French Embassy has confirmed that Emmanuel Macron is due to arrive in Port Vila today for his two-day visit as part of his three-country Pacific visit which also includes New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.

France and Vanuatu both claim sovereignty over the disputed, uninhabited islands which lie south-south-east of Port Vila and due east of Noumea.

Indigenous Kanaks from New Caledonia have previously said it belongs to Vanuatu.

Another New Caledonia airport hit by protest

The domestic carrier Air Caledonie raised its return fares from Noumea by almost $US7 dollars when it restarted its service earlier this month.

The airline was grounded since March because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The chiefs on Lifou already forced the island's airport to close last Friday, saying it would remain shut until the fare hike was rescinded.

They said the shareholders should wear the extra costs, and not the island's population.

The chiefs on Mare said they would block flights until there was a compromise.

Cooks leaders blocked from telling EU it's not welcome

Under the agreement the Cook Islands will receive almost $US7-million for allowing four European purse seiners to fish for skipjack tuna.

Traditional leader William Framhein said they had intended to deliver a message to EU officials at a public meeting Wednesday night to keep out of their seas.

But he says they were told by Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown that he would not expose the EU representatives to them.