Archive - Aug 17, 2011

A minister of the short lived Easter Government of Serge Vohor managed to slip Vanuatu into the fast track for ratification of World Trade Organisation membership just a few months ago. And there are even fewer months to go. Vanuatu is supposed to ratify in November.

That signing went virtually un-noticed, like many signings before in the Republic, going back to the time when Britain and France decided to sign these islands over to themselves, as theirs. It was all done without much thought for the inhabitants.

Finance minister Moana Carcasses lived up to his word to personally pick up rubbish in town and has proven that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty as our picture shows.

The Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) has made its stand clear on the issue of the WTO at the open media Forum last week when the Chairman Bishop James Ligo disclosed that VCC totally opposes the idea of Vanuatu becoming a member of the World Trade Organisation.

VCC Chairman Ligo told Daily Post that if the government does not listen to the people who do not agree to Vanuatu becoming a member of the WTO, the VCC will take the issue further and that is to seek an alternative to present their concern to the government.

Mati Futbol klab blong is Malo ino hapi long ol wok blong president blong Sanma Futbol Assosiesen (SFA) Stanley Jacob mo Spot Ofisa blong Sanma Provina Jansen Moli follem ol arenjmen blong ol jampion klap blong Malo blong go tekem pat long ol tunamen long Luganville Santo.

Mati Futbol Klap hemi raisem konsen blong hem follem posisen blong hem we i stap naoia olsem rana ap blong Rainbow Futbol Klap blong Fanafo afta long tunamen blong Sanma Kap long 2009 long Chapuis stadium long Luganville Santo.

Dear Editor,

All the excitement of the 31 years of independence celebration have now subsided into oblivion, unfortunately because of my work commitment I have not witnessed nor participated in any celebration anywhere in Vanuatu or abroad.

But I could imagine what has transpired during the week-long celebration around Port Vila and the islands of Vanuatu.

Dear Editor,

This is a reply to the article published in the Islands Business.
Vanuatu gets better WTO deal: PiPP
by Dionisia Tabureguci

Vanuatu clinched a relatively better deal with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) than most Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that recently joined, says the Vanuatu-based Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP).

Not true - in fact the opposite.

It is fair to say that all the women who feature in the women’s Profiles’ Book called ‘Many rivers to cross’, have met Queen Elizabeth II, through co-author Shirley Joy’s eyes.

Joy, who is the wife of the High Commissioner to England Roy Micky Joy, has every reason to feel that she is on cloud nine still, after she personally presented the book to Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace last month on July 11. She co-wrote the book with another journalist, Lora Lini Napuati.

Prime Minister (PM) Sato Kilman’s government lodged two separate motions in their bid to remove the Speaker of Parliament in the 5th extraordinary sitting of Parliament of 2011.

But both failed and a third renewed attempt is looming.

Vanuatu Prime (PM) minister Sato Kilman has conveyed the gratitude of the people and Vanuatu government to the government of Australia for its continued support towards Vanuatu’s development efforts.

PM Kilman made this statement in a ceremony marking signing of the Outcome statement of the Australia-Vanuatu partnership talks Friday evening by PM Kilman and Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach.

PM Kilman revealed the key priorities outcomes of the new partnership include:

On 11 August 2011, Vanuatu joined the 147 countries in the world that ban torture through the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Vanuatu is the first Pacific Island Nation that has ratified the Convention, which comes into legal force today.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Regional Office for the Pacific, congratulates Vanuatu on this important step.

Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for OHCHR’s Pacific Office, said: