Archive - Aug 2012

It’s likely that the government will release Vt18 million today to local company Maison du Vanuatu.

Daily Post was reliably informed that instructions were issued Wednesday by the Minister of Finance, Moana Carcasses, for the payment to be made by today.

According to the minister payment is made based on a civil case No. 24 of 2012.

Minister Carcasses gave the instructions following a letter from Maison du Vanuatu lawyer, Ronald Warsal.

Disturbing news from Parliament Thursday noon was that Minister for Finance, Moana Carcasses, announced that the Government was going to table an additional Bill, the URA (Utilities Regulatory Authority) Amendment Bill.

Because it was not on the original list of bills presented by the government for this extraordinary session, the minister said he was going to move a motion to suspend Standing Orders so that the Bill could be tabled.

“Put children first. Because children’s well-being is paramount to our country’s development, investment in children is the best investment we can make.”
The Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Mr Moana Carcasses made the above remarks this week in launching two informative publications that focus on children - the Vanuatu Child Poverty and Disparities Study as well as Children in Vanuatu: 2011 An Atlas of Social Indicators.

The Special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit was held in Nadi, Fiji on 22 August 2012.

A bus driver and a female passenger were rushed at the weekend to hospital with serious injuries after a severe traffic accident.

In one of the two traffic accidents that occurred over the weekend, two service buses whose drivers were believed to be under the influence of alcohol collided at Tagabe area last Saturday afternoon.

Value Added Tax (VAT), continue …
 One of the most frequently asked questions to our auditors and compliance officers is the treatment of motor vehicle expense claims for VAT purposes. In this edition of our weekly column we will clarify some of the issues raised by registered persons.
1.    Claims for VAT on the purchase of motor vehicles can only be made once approval is granted by the VAT Office. Approval will only be granted where:
• it can be proven that the motor vehicle is used 100% for business use, or

Torgil Rural Training Centre’s relationship with Volunteer Service Abroad NZ continues with the welcoming of a new volunteer this week to the institution at Ambae. John Putt started a two year assignment as Carpentry Business Advisor at the Rural Training Centre. Putt has extensive experience in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Principal, Willie Ben Tabi said “we have a wonderful relationship with VSA, Country Program
Manager Diane Thorne-George has visited Torgil on many occasions and understands our needs.

And the caliber and experience of VSA Volunteers is exceptional.

An integral part of the upcoming Lukaotem Gud Santo Festival on September 21 and 22 is the Environmental Awareness Programme to be conducted in schools and local communities around Luganville.

The schools are Kamewa, Rowhani, Saint Therese, Sarakata, Santo East and College de Luganville. Some of the communities are Chapuis, Pepsi, Solwe, Sarakata, Showground and Mango.

The programme is designed to create awareness of some of the major environmental issues facing Luganville today and provide some ways for local people to mitigate them.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Harry Iauko, officially handed over a 90-horsepower boat to Chief Bong of Bunlap yesterday afternoon.
During his official tour on July 2012 to South Pentecost, the minister received the request from the people of Bunlap.

Air Pacific, Fiji’s International Airline has added a direct Suva - Port Vila service to its international network.

The non-stop, once-a-week direct service on Sundays between the capitals of Fiji and Vanuatu will be operated by the airline’s wholly owned subsidiary Pacific Sun using its forty-two seat ATR42-500 aircraft.