Vanuatu

It is alleged that government MPs Paul Telukluk and Arnold Prasad, along with a former diplomat turned businessman, attempted to defraud the government and people of Vanuatu by not declaring their company's import of a large quantity of cigarettes.

According to the opposition, Vanuatu's Director of the Department of Customs and the Commissioner of Police should properly investigate the allegation.

The opposition also called on the government to refrain and cease from attempting to interfere with the lawful operation of Customs in dealing with this allegation.

“Put all your differences aside so we can make a change and see its impacts.”

The two-year plan establishes three high level objectives, relating to infrastructure, social services and ni-Vanuatu livelihoods. It specifies how these objectives will be achieved, through a program of projects managed by Government ministries and delivered in collaboration with partners.

The Government has also approved and implemented the administrative arrangements necessary to support the program.

A Recovery Program Committee will be responsible for assessing project submissions and taking decisions on which projects to be undertaken and ensuring their delivery.

Around 500 strong Tannese men, women and children swooped in on Ifira wharf to begin the ground breaking ceremony of the Lapetasi Wharf Project in a gigantic Toka dance to welcome the new development of port facility for Vanuatu.

Swinging and clapping their hands and stomping their feet in unison, the men circled round and round, rushing in a human tide to the centre and then out again, sending clouds of dust in the air as the earth shook under their feet.

A demonstration in Vanuatu's Shefa province last week brought local farmers together with their counterparts from Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

The event is based on the "Knowledge Hub" concept, which was first trialled in the Solomon Islands by regional NGO Live and Learn before being exported to other countries by the UN's Pacific Risk Resilience Programme.

Its manager, Moortaza Jiwanji says the Knowledge Hubs in Vanuatu have been helping farmers recover from Cyclone Pam, which wiped out almost all food and agricultural crops in March.

In his message of condolence, Lini reminded the people of Vanuatu that the late Natapei was the key political figure in the political reunification road map as he was the Chairman of the group.

Lini vowed that the road map and the process will continue to fulfill the dream that Natapei had left behind for those that stood with him and to have it fulfilled.

University of the South Pacific Emalus Campus Manager, Reuben Markward Bakeo, says the public should be proud that the university is situated in Port Vila, that they should also regard it as their own, and share responsibility for its image.

The main entrance to the USP Emalus Campus looks as respectable as any university campus in the Pacific but the security fence at the back of the university, which divides the regional institution from Beverley Hills, has a number of ugly holes cut to get the public to make a short cut to reach town.

One of the seasonal workers has been charged with indecent assault with intent to commit sexual violation while the other has been charged with being a party to the alleged assault.

The two men were discovered by a police officer in an alley in the early hours of February 9.

One of the men had his pants around his ankles and was standing over a woman who was pleading to be left alone.

It is alleged the man pulled the woman into the alley after she had left a Hastings bar.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to charges.

This latest funding comes on top of $US54 million already granted for the project.

The Japanese Ambassador, Takuji Hanatani, says Vanuatu will benefit from the construction of a new wharf, a container yard, an administration building and other important facilities.

Mr Hanatani says Vanuatu's current port facilities have limited capacity for handling the demand of the country's broader shipping sector, which includes cruise ships, freighters and fuel tankers.

This was the final remark made by the late Edward Natapei’s eldest daughter, Melinda Natapei, at Ishia Village in Herald Bay, Futuna, just before his father's body was laid in his final resting place yesterday at 1.30pm.