Vanuatu

Chairman of the VBTC Board, Jonethy Jerety signed an MOU with Consulting Vanuatu Wednesday to carry out a feasibility study on the possibility to install solar panels at VBTC.

“We have started and now we have taken action to go green”, Mr Jerety told the media prior to the signing.

Mr Jerethy said the feasibility study will address the issue of monthly excessive power-consumption costs incurred by VBTC which averages between VT1.5 – VT1.7 million.

Under the MOU, Consulting Vanuatu will carry out the three-week feasibility study free-of-charge.

Candidate Uri Warawara was declared duly elected by the Electoral Commission chairman, Martine Tete, at about 6.30pm (local time) and his announcement was made in the northern town of Luganville.

Warawara’s successful result has proved he had maintained his support base as the runner up to the winning candidate of this year’s snap election, late Havo Moli, earlier this year.

His election will bring to a total of 8 members of the GJP in the current 11th legislature.

RNZI reports a memo issued by the Public Service Commission in Vanuatu said it was restricting social media access in government departments.

It said requests to use social media would have to be approved by the PSC Secretariat before access was enabled.

A memo issued by the Commission's acting secretary Jacques Gedeon said requests to use social media must be approved by the PSC Secretariat before access is enabled.

RNZI correspondent Heather Maraki said work was getting underway to implement the social media restrictions, which had already provoked a strong response from public servants.

Political party offices contesting the election have remained silent but independent sources confirmed Uri Warawara was leading the score card.

Voting ended at 4.30pm yesterday and counting went ahead straight after.

Warawara’s unofficial result is way past 660 votes and his runner-up, Bani Livo, an independent candidate got 476 votes.

This difference in number of votes places him in a secure position to win the only seat in the constituency that became vacant when late, Havo Moli died one month after he was elected First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

An announcement was scheduled to be made yesterday.

Police Media Center says the delay was due to the absence of the Minister for Internal Affairs, Alfred Maoh who is in Sanma province for the Malo/Aore by-election and to visit his voters in Santo Rural.

The Police Service Commission also held its meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss the score cards from the interviews with the three short-listed candidates who are vying for the vacant Police Commissioner’s post.

The alert level remains at Level 2.

This means that the volcanic explosions remain intense, volcanic bombs may fall in and/or around the crater and volcanic gas and ashes can also affect some villages.

The observation desk of the Geohazards Observatory says the crater is closed and the area of risk remains around the volcanic crater and in areas exposed to trade winds.

The Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) MP for Efate Rural, was appointed by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas in a ceremony at the PM’s office late yesterday afternoon.

Minister Norris replaces Nato Taiwia, who vacated the position, after a court order nullified his election as MP.

One of the most demanding tasks of the new minister is to address the increasing number of unemployed youths.

Prime Minister Tabimasmas said Sports and Youth Development has a very important role to play because it caters for a large portion of Vanuatu’s population.

Delegates of the two Pacific Islands' countries accused Indonesia of failing to prevent ongoing human rights abuses against West Papuans.

But Indonesia's delegate at the session, Michael Tene, said Vanuatu and Solomon Islands' statements showed a lack of understanding of Papua.

He said they were politically motivated in support of separatist groups which incite public disorder and terrorist attacks against civilians and security personnel.

RNZI reports selling produce and crafts in markets is a vital source of income to many families in the Pacific, but women vendors are often underrepresented, and have no say in the decision making process.

The national project coordinator of Markets For Change, Morris Kaloran, said by forming a market vendors association they could give women a voice.