Vanuatu

The awards were conferred by Honourable Henry Puna, USP Chancellor and Prime Minister of Cook Islands.

Of the total number of graduates, fifty-one percent (51%) were females. The graduates were from six (6) Pacific Island countries, namely Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

In his statement during the event, Professor Armstrong warmly welcomed all dignitaries and guests present at the Vanuatu Convention Centre. 

The US Pacific Tuna Treaty was signed by the Acting Director General for Foreign Affairs Basil Yvon on behalf of the Government of Vanuatu at the margins of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 13th annual meeting in Nadi, Fiji.

Yvon said there has been an increase in Project Development Funds as part of the arrangement with the US.

“With the increase in PDF funds we can fund more fisheries-related projects in the country as part of the development of our fisheries. So this is one of the economic benefits that we are getting out of this Treaty,” Yvon said.

According to Islands Business, this after a motion was tabled in Parliament earlier today by government backbenchers.

It is the second vote Salwai has faced this year.

There is no indication at this time on the reasons for the vote and Parliament has been adjourned until next week.

The Essien No. 108 was caught fishing without a license in Cook Island waters in December last year.
 
After a lengthy investigation by Vanuatu authorities the vessel’s operator was ordered to pay a fine of USD$186,000 (approx. Vt 20 million) which the Vanuatu government passed on to the Cook Islands on Friday in a last minute bid to avoid the blacklisting of the boat.
 

 MS Bishop is accompanied by Labor Senators, Hon Penny Wong and Claire Moore on the trip.

The visit to Solomon Island, Vanuatu and Samoa is aimed at meeting with the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of each country on a range of issues including regional stability, development challenges and emergency responses.

Ms Bishop said the visit to Solomon Islands will reiterate Australia's continuing commitment to peace and stability after the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) withdraws in June 2017.

In rural areas in Vanuatu, where most of the population live, just 17 percent of people have access to electricity.

The Daily Post said this puts Vanuatu at the same level of rural electrification as the most underdeveloped countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Access to energy, a critical condition for economic growth, has become even more pressing in Vanuatu in the wake of Cyclone Pam, which cut the country's GDP by 50 percent.

The Vanuatu Government is aiming to boost sustainable income generation through access to clean energy in the rural areas.

RNZ reports yesterday marked one year until the scheduled start of the Games in Port Vila.

The construction of the main Korman complex had suffered a series of delays since Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu in March last year.

The CEO of Van2017 organising committee, Clint Flood, said they would like to be further along in their plans but good progress is being made.

According to Islands Business, The Cook Islands has reported a Vanuatu flagged fishing boat for possible black listing in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Vessel List.

The ship, according to the latest report of the Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) of the WCPFC, is identified as ESSEN No 108.

The report did say that the two countries are already in talks and hope to resolve the matter before the 13th session of WCPFC, which is due to start in Nadi, Fiji on Monday.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the bites of an Andes mosquito infected with a dengue virus.

Director of Public Health, Dr Len Tarivonda says from the 14 cases 6 are confirmed while 8 are suspects whose blood samples are now being tested in New Zealand.

He said the cases come from Port Vila mainly from the central and southern wards.

Dr Tarivonda said from the 14 cases, only one was admitted while the rest were managed at their respective homes.

“The current motion was received on 23rd of November and I made a declaration that the motion was in order and will be debated today 30th when the motion becomes mature”, Mr Saimon said.

However, he added that after closer consideration, the Standing Orders clearly state that only the Prime Minister or majority of members could call for an extra ordinary session. In this case, the motion was lodged by the Opposition but it failed to meet the requirement of the Standing Orders (rules of parliament).