Vanuatu

The travel agents successfully completed Vanuatu Tourism Office’s (VTO) online training incentive programme.

Mr Allan Kalfabun, VTO Marketing Manager explains, "The training we’ve designed for travel agents is a key activity which we developed online to educate and have much destination & product information on hand, for agents to know and sell the destination".

According to the news agency TASS, the documents were signed by the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Vanuatu counterpart Bruno Leingkone in New York.

The two met on the side of the UN General Assembly when Mr Lavrov encountered representatives from 12 Pacific Island countries.

Fiji and Russia agreed to abolish visa requirements after Mr Lavrov's visit to Fiji four years ago.

Radio Vanuatu reports now, the Australian government is aiming to deepen Australian’s understanding of one of its nearest neighbours through Australia’s New Colombo Plan.

Launched in 2014, the New Colombo Plan enables Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships or have access to a mobility program grant for short-term study, internships, mentorships and research in Vanuatu and across the Indo-Pacific region. Vanuatu was one of the first countries to participate in the program and will welcome over 90 Australian students in 2017.

The trainees are from Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFFB) and the Vanuatu Agriculture College in Santo.

The two-week course covers a range of assessments including theory, tutorials and field activities under the supervision of veterinarians from MALFB and the Pacific Community (SPC).

Radio Vanuatu reports Australian plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Ian Holten, and local surgeon, Samuel Kemuel, with support from the staff at Vila Central Hospital, performed the surgeries as part of the Australia Non-Government Organisation Cooperation Program (ANCP) which is managed by Interplast.

Funded by the Australian Government, the program utilises the skills and knowledge of visiting Australian specialists to develop the skills of local surgeons and surgical trainees in both complex and basic operations.

Radio Vanuatu reports Minister Pikioune in his short remarks at the launch yesterday urged that it was time for the people of Vanuatu to show patriotism to their country by supporting the government’s revenue review initiative or tax reforms in order for the government to continue to meet service delivery needs of the people.

The organizing committee is requesting all people of Malampa or Fiji origin to join and support the celebrations this year.

The issue of income tax has attracted a lot of attention in social media, the opposition and the business community.

Many are still unclear as to what this means and its effect on their livelihood.

A member of the private sector has alleged that Vanuatu, which is known and promoted as a tax friendly country, could potentially damage the country’s perception in this regard, and restrict investment.

The opposition has expressed concern over a lack of public consultation on the government's proposal to introduce an income tax.

The committee says an initial selection of string bands has been made for the Fest’Nalenga which will happen on Wednesday, October 12 as the opening night of the Fest’Napuan 2016 music festival.

The string band music is another musical genre that became widely popular during the 20th century in all areas of Vanuatu.

It combines guitars, ukulele, and popular songs that are sung in a unique island fashion.

In this year’s event, the bands selected are:

The umbrellas will protect the women from the sun and the rain.

The temporary market caters for women from Teouma, Erangorango and other areas around Efate.

On most occasions, the women can be seen selling their produce and crafts while cradling their babies in the sun.

Manples Market is popular because of its location beside the main road and Au Bon Marche.

Fresh produce is available throughout the week.

The market was temporarily relocated to make way for work to be carried out at the old market site.