Vanuatu Government

Under recent amendments to immigration law, permanent residency can be granted to non-citizines and their families for 10 years, and is renewable.

Blue Mirror has also been authorised as the only office in Vanuatu that can deal with programme.

The Daily Post reported the company's director and sole shareholder, Samuel Andrew, was listed as residing in Eratap on Efate.

Meanwhile, Vanuatu's Trade Commissioner in Dubai has also been contracted as an agent for the programme.

The Daily Post reported the change was passed unanimously by Parliament as the opposition served its two day suspension for boycotting the first sitting.

Prime Minister Bob Loughman said the age was raised in accordance with improved health facilities and a higher life expectancy.

The World Health Organisation said Vanuatu's life expectancy in 2018 was 72.

However, the Minister of Finance, Johnny Koanapo, said discussions with Vanuatu's Pension Fund were underway on giving ni-Vanuatu access to retirement packages at age 57.

A statement from the National Disaster of Management Office said the tinned fish contained worms.

Although the worms were dead, the contents were a physical hazard and unfit for consumption.

The Director of NDMO, Abraham Nasak confirmed the department has advised responsible authorities to implement the ban on the importation of the OKI brand of tinned fish.

The importer of the tinned fish has been dealt with under the Penalty Notice Regulation Order No.54 of 2010.

The importer has also been instructed to remove all OKI fish products in all shops in Vanuatu.

The Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Abraham Nasak, said the medical evacuation after TC Harold is part of the disaster response thus, the government is responsible for repatriation.

The statement from NDMO acknowledged Brothers for Life (B4L) for meeting the cost of repatriating a family of four from Sauriki in southwest Santo on Friday last week.

The family which had their plane tickets paid by B4L were part of a group of 17 victims flown to Port Vila for further medical attention.

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 Vanuatu Electoral Commission had suffered multiple setbacks to announcing the official election results, with the sudden death of its

chairman Martin Tete this week.

Prior to that, extreme weather set polling back a day in the southern provinces.

Brisbane-based adjunct professor for Asia and the Pacific at Griffith, Tess Newton Cain, who is a Vanuatu citizen, has been following the election

closely.

She said based on unofficial election results four major parties had emerged with similar numbers of MPs - namely Graon Mo Jastis, Reunification

The internship programme is managed through the Human Resource Development Unit of the Public Service Commission (PSC), known as VIPAM (Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration &AMP Management).

The Chairman of the PSC, Martin Mahe, congratulated the interns for their determination to find and build a career in the Public Service and encouraged them to work hard.

He urged them to not follow some negative corporate cultures and work attitudes that are sometimes demonstrated in the public service.

The rights group describes the move against Vanuatu Daily Post editor Dan McGarry as disgraceful.

Mr McGarry has linked the government's decision to his reporting critical of Vanuatu's deportation of Chinese nationals to China.

Vanuatu officials have denied the rejection is political, saying the Daily Post must be headed by a ni-Vanuatu under local laws.

Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific director, Daniel Bastard, said Mr McGarry had been punished for annoying the government.

The Director General responsible for biosecurity, Moses Amos, said his ministry had received offers from New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines and Israel.

The beetle is considered a threat to the country's coconut industry and the government recently extended a state of emergency until 21 October to deal with the infestation.

Mr Amos said the offers of help showed that the international community was aware how the beetle could impact the Vanuatu.

This week a funeral march took place through Port Vila with the coffin of a Tannese person who was allegedly killed by people from Ambrym.

Ten years ago, there were tensions between the two groups which saw a number of deaths and the torching of houses belonging to the people of Ambrym by an angry mob from Tanna.

A custom ceremony was held in which both parties agreed that there would be no more killings.