Vanuatu

Three new water tanks with a total capacity of 26,000 litres were commissioned at the school recently.

The water tanks are funded by the government of New Zealand.

According to the school Principal Mr Joel Daniels, the aim of the New Zealand Scheme application is because it complies with the NBJSS strategic plan for 2014-2018. It also complies with certain school policies such as risk management, student welfare and student health and safety.

The campaign, which follows a number of consultations that were conducted in 2015-2016 to develop the Bill, is critical now as the Bill has not yet been taken to Parliament.

Members of the Malvatumauri, Vaturisu and Fat-Kor-Pau Council of Chiefs in partnership with representatives of the Vanuatu Government, Vanuatu Kaljorol Senta (cultural centre) and Van2017 assembled in a quaint yet significant ceremony in the newly opened Nakamal Blong ol Jif for the unveiling and blessing of the “Sagoa” (pronounced Sangoa), witnessed by Van2017 Sponsors, the media and members of the public on Wednesday April 19.

Marceline is practically blind and needs a corneal transplant in one eye to be able to see again.

With the help of the NevHouse Foundation, Marceline has been flown to Brisbane for treatment, where she is currently undergoing tests to see if she's a candidate for the transplant.

The Vanuatu representative for NevHouse, Ernie Johnson, says everyone is hopeful that the operation will go ahead.

Johnson told Pacific Beat the girl was found at a hospital when a team went to Tanna to build houses in a village that was devastated by Cyclone Pam.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 struck northwest of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Monday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake was initially reported with a magnitude of 6.0 but was later downgraded by the USGS.

It was recorded at a depth of 20 km and was located around 250 km northwest of Vanuatu's Santo island, the USGS said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning or any reports of damage or casualties.

The Amicale football program is named, BSP Football Sevens League and organised to encourage development and recognition new talents for sport in Vanuatu.

The country has seen encouraging results, after the Vanuatu A grade senior men’s team participated in the Football O League games.

BSP’s Head of Retail and Marketing, Moana Korikalo said, “The event is also established to encourage community participation and parental engagement, and is tailored around teams of seven combining both girls and boys.”

The agriculture minister Matai Seremaiah said a tractor equipped with a digger is being shipped to the island to help farmers dig ponds.

Speaking in Naone village on Maewo, the minister said the government was determined to focus on specific projects which suit the natural environment.

He assured the villagers that aquaculture technicians are on standby to help start farms according to a report by RNZ.

Mr Seremaiah said former governments tried to spread economic development to almost all 83 inhabited islands and failed.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that Port Vila MPs Ephraim Kalsakau and Seule Kalo as well as Paama MP Alfred Taso and Ambrym MP Albert Williams took part in a kastom mat ceremony with the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai yesterday to formalise the move.

The ceremony also served as a form of reconciliation since three of the four MPs actually deserted Mr Salwai shortly after he survived a motion of no confidence in December last year.

The category 2 cyclone swept through at the weekend causing widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure and crops mainly on Efate, with some people having to evacuate.

The department's planning and research officer, Peter Korisa, said while most people had now returned back to their homes to clean up, his team was working on recovery plans.

"So far our team is trying to focus on working with provincial authorities just to do some assessments and our focus is now more on assessment particularly more so the sanitation, infrastructure, and education."

In the end they missed out after the Italians were allowed to replace one of their two athletes even though she had failed a dope test.

Mr Boudier has just been voted on to the Oceania National Olympic Committees executive board, and he says he's determined that the ideals which ONOC aspires to, should apply to the entire Olympic movement.

He says at the end of the day it’s not about his country.