Vanuatu

No one in Vanuatu is of any special status and is above the law”: Supreme Court Justice Mary Sey in judgment of Judicial Review case 16 of 2013 Vanuatu Rowing Association (Claimant) v Minister of Lands; Director of Lands, Survey and Records and Sandy Kalo (First, second and third Defendants respectively).

The body of Edward Natapei has been lying in state at Vanuatu's Parliament, draped in traditional mats and the national colours of Vanuatu red, green, yellow and black.

Mourners have been queuing up at Parliament House today to pay their respects.

After the state funeral Mr Natapei's body will flown south to his home island of Futuna in the country's Tafea province for burial.

Mr Natapei, who was 61, had been prime minister for three years from 2001 and then for most of the years from 2008 to 2010.

Knowledge Hubs are already being developed in Vanuatu’s Tafea Province, and in other Pacific Island countries including Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga – these three countries had community and government representatives visit Tanoliu’s new demonstration plot to learn and exchange ideas.

“We are very proud to have you here in Tanoliu,” said the representative for the Department of Local Authorities (DLA) and Shefa Provincial Government Area Council Development Officer, Ian Kalsuak, during the recent visit by Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga representatives.

Natapei was Prime Minister twice and Opposition leader several times during the course of his 32 year parliamentary career. He first entered parliament in 1983 as an MP for TAFEA outer islands. He later became an MP for the Port Vila constituency and has held his seat ever since.

He will be remembered as an honest and humble leader who did much for his constituency and the nation at large.

The Pacific Institute of Public Policy extends its deep condolences to his family and the nation and acknowledges that Vanuatu’s political life will be poorer without his presence.

The country gained independence from the joint-colonial rule of Britain and France in 1980 after a decades-long independence struggle.

But casting a shadow over today's celebrations is the death this week of one of the country's political stalwarts, opposition leader and former prime minister Edward Natapei.

Natapei was the long-time leader of the country's oldest political party, the Vanua'aku Pati, which was closely involved in ushering the country to independence.

Natapei held the position of Opposition Leader before his sudden death.

The late Edward Natapei was instrumental in the process of the reunification process between the Vanua’aku Party (VP), the National United Party (NUP), the Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) until his death early Tuesday morning in Port Vila.

This has left inhabitants of rural islands facing an uncertain future.

Tanna, an island 200km south of the capital Port-Vila, took a direct hit on 13 March. The wreckage is still visible: the tops of banyan trees have been lopped off, roofs ripped away and churches flattened. Trees on island were stripped by winds gusting at over 320km/h, but now fresh greenery is bursting out and people are rebuilding their homes and replanting their fields.

Mr Natapei, who was 61, had been prime minister for three years from 2001 and then for most of the years from 2008 to 2010.

Both periods were marked by bitter political rivalry.

A long time political colleague Willie Jimmy, who served in a number of ministerial roles in Mr Natapei's governments says Vanuatu has lost a great leader.

Mr Jimmy was working closely with Mr Natapei even before they entered parliament together in the same election 32 years ago.

Natapei was first elected to Parliament in 1983. In 1996, he was elected Speaker of Parliament and in 1999 was elected as President of Vanua'aku Pati. In a parliamentary vote on 25 November 1999, Natapei was a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, but was defeated by Barak Sope, receiving 24 votes against 28 for Sope.

The salary of each of the position is Vt2.6 million annually or Vt108,000 per fortnight with other specified benefits.

The perks that come with the positions are: entitlement to rent-free, fully furnished houses, a car, child allowance, gratuity and annual leave rate.

The Government is yet to officially reveal the names of the holders of these two positions, but Daily Post understands they are MPs Steven Kalsakau and Silas Yatan.