Archive - Apr 19, 2012

Before coming to Vanuatu, I was told, “Oh, you have to try Coconut Crab, it’s a famous delicacy!”
I put it on the to-do list and thought little more of the matter until actually arriving here.
When I did, I started to learn that this so-called delicacy is a slow growing wild animal that may now be vulnerable to extinction in the wild.
The Coconut Crab is a species of hermit crab and is the largest land-living arthropod in the world. Doesn’t really mean much does it?
Not until you realise that this means it is a crab that grows up to one metre across!

The Defense Force Board of Inquiry into the Julian Moti scandal has recommended that those involved in the clandestine operation be further investigated and prosecuted under the Criminal and Leadership Codes.
These include Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, who was then Prime Minister when the incident took place in 2006. The final Report of the Inquiry, tabled in Parliament last week, highlighted that Sir Michael breached provisions of the constitution when he gave the okay for the PNG Defense Force to fly Moti out of the country.

The main speaker for the combined scout camp of Luganville, Elizabeth Sihos, said that the previous Easter camp has shaped a lot of youths to become good Vanuatu ambassadors.
The Luganville combined Scout 2012 camp was held at Bombua beach where over 60 participants focused on the theme “sharing skills together”.
Sihos was invited to talk on Sunday. She was chosen as the main speaker on Sunday as an example that women were the first to see the resurrection of Jesus.

A small Tannese group in Luganville welcomed Minister of Internal Affairs George Wells last week to a small gathering.
The gathering marked their relationship and their intention to support minister Wells in the coming general election.
The Tannese including the new Matevulu College Principal, George Iapson, and Vanuatu Agriculture College Chief Executive Officer, Peter Napwatt, were there with the minister to witness the gathering which was held at Matevulu College.

Villagers from Vunafos in South Santo were forced by vehicle owners to make sure they mend and improve their poor road condition or else they may not have access to vehicles to travel to Luganville.
Daniel Donald from Vunafos Village confirmed to Daily Post that their road has been a dilemma for the whole village since 1995 when the road was first constructed.

Last week on Saturday the villagers began to start work on the bad road filling the mud with stones. The road covered so far by the works was about 100 meters.

The Drugs unit at the
Vila police station under the Vanuatu Police Force has arrested a USP Student last Friday at Tebakor for the possession of marijuana and was later released.

According to the assault case in which the Deputy Principal of Malapoa College was assaulted last week, the police in Port Vila have arrested four suspects.
Two of the suspects have been remanded and the other two suspects were released because they were underage.
According to the decisions taken against the other two suspects to be released, the police are disappointed because of the action taken.

Most patients had a smile on their faces in the Wards that Anne Fong Fonua and her Personal Ministry Group from New Caledonia visited last Sunday.
Showers of blessing lit up the faces of the little children in the Children’s Ward and adults in the Maternity Ward, Surgical Ward and Medical Ward of Vila Central Hospital last Sunday when they received free gifts of toys, children’s clothes and baby carriers and Bibles in French and English from the dynamic ministry from Montdore in New Caledonia.

Chiefs representing the communities on the road to Malapoa College and beyond including a representative of Chief Mantoi Kalsakau III of Ifira, have apologised to the Principal Louis Tokoune and the Director of Education, Roy Obed Matariki for the vicious assault on the Deputy Principal of the College, Willie Sandy last Thursday, that left him with a fractured arm and loss of two teeth.

They promised to do their best to make sure that the road is safe for both students and adults to use.

Turning to economic issues, the President stated that the first impression that the visitors to Vanuatu get is that the country is green and beautiful.
The Head of State challenged the leaders to positively change this perception.

The Utilities Regulatory Authority (Authority) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2011 Annual Report.
The Annual Report is prepared in accordance with Part 7 of the Utilities Regulatory Authority Act No. 11 of 2007, and as required by section 33 of the Act.
Copies are now available to the general public from the Authority’s office, located at the VNPF Building’s ground floor, and on the home page of its website www.ura.gov.vu .