Vanuatu

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Semi Koroilavesau signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Vanuatu Minister for Education and Training, Jean Pierre Niurua, late last week.

According to Fiji Sun, the MOA to be renewed every two years allows retired Fijian volunteer teachers to be re-engaged in Vanuatu through the regional component of volunteer service.

According to RNZI, the Vanuatu government minister Ralph Regenvanu was one of dozens of MPs and leaders from the wider Pacific, Europe and Britain, who attended last week's IPWP summit in London.

The summit resulted in a declaration calling for an internationally-supervised vote on independence in West Papua.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported SBS Korea and AHTV China were filming a South Korean reality show, Laws of the Jungle, on Malotina, near Malo Island in Santo.

Tony Moli Hakwa, as the spokesperson for the registered lessees, said they were not consulted and not offered anything by the film crew.

They demanded the funds from the Vanuatu Tourism Office, and asked for the footage to be seized.

They’re chanting, clapping and stomping across the black volcanic sand and grass, creating a human drum beat that reverberates to the core.

It’s like being inside a human heart. At its centre is Australian Nev Hyman who appears slightly overdressed in shorts and a shirt.

Tanna Island villagers, which bore the brunt of Cyclone Pam a year ago, are swirling around him, performing custom choreography and songs of their forebears.

Hyman, a former surfboard maker from the Gold Coast, is in his element copying the steps of a village chief.

Supported by the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Policy Workshop was spearheaded by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Justice and Community Service, with participants from the Ombudsman’s and Land Ombudsman’s Offices, State Law Office, Vanuatu Law and Public Service Commissions, and the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Statistics, Education, Public Works, Local Authorities and Forestry, and the Customary Land Management Office. 

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports that a date is yet to be confirmed, although provisional dates are from May 30 to June 3, depending on the availability and commitments of the Leaders.

The MSG summit had been expected to formalise the appointment of a new director-general for the sub-regional grouping's Port Vila-based secretariat.

However two MSG members, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, have objected to the announcement by the MSG chair, Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, that the Fiji diplomat Amena Yauvoli had been selected for the role.

RNZI reports work was meant to begin 13 months ago before Cyclone Pam caused widespread damage to the country.

In January, organisers pushed the start date back by three months to allow more time to prepare.

The Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council, Andrew Minogue, said with a permanent government now in place and works underway, it's encouraging to see some much-needed progress.

The US geological survey said the quake occurred just after 7.30 this morning (1930 UTC) at a depth of 10 kilometres.

RNZI reports it struck 31 kilometres east south east of Lakatoro on the island of Malekula.

The quake was felt strongly in both the capital Port Vila, in the south of the country, and in the main northern centre of Luganville, which is closer to the epicentre.

Images of damage to general stores in Luganville have surfaced on Facebook.

The meeting takes place on 2nd and 3rd of May.

Before his departure, Minister Regenvanu said the meeting, which will be attended by fellow IPWP members and representatives of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), will discuss the future for West Papuans in accordance with the IPWP belief in their inalienable right of self-determination.

The purpose of the trip, organised by the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO), was to raise awareness about Air Vanuatu’s new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the completion of emergency runway repairs and simply to remind New Zealanders of the country’s many charms.

The visit is part of a campaign to revive tourism from Vanuatu’s nearest neighbours.