Maewo MP Wilson acknowledges contribution by Alexis Cullen

Member of Parliament for Maewo Island, Ian Wilson, has told former US Peace Corp volunteer, Alexis Cullen, that if she was a Vanuatu citizen he would not hesitate to step down when his term in Parliament ended in 2020 and support her election into the next Parliament.

He made the comment in his speech at the opening of Telemedicine facility at Naviso village last Thursday.

The message to Mrs. Cullen reflected the Maewo MP’s utmost appreciation for her work toward the people of his constituency.

“I have the heart to thank you Alexis Cullen,” he repeated, his voice quivering overwhelmed with motion for the massive contribution, when he came expressing his gratitude for the work for his people.

He was so appreciative of the work that he said to Mrs. Cullen that if she was a ni-Vanuatu, he would not hesitate to let be her become the next MP for Maewo.

He said it was services such as what initiated and realized by Alexis Cullen were what MPs were elected to do for their people.

He added that Mrs. Cullen saw the huge communication difficulties faced by the people of Naviso especially in the delivery of health services when it came to the critically ill and she did something about it, with the support of the Government and other partners.

“It is a challenge for us elected officials to strife to make changes, however small some may be, but changes still for the good of the people.”

He also challenged government officials to visit remote places of Vanuatu because he said “many with their degrees tend to only stay in Port Vila and Luganville and make overseas visits but they hardly visit remote places” of the country.

“Even though people in these remote places pay taxes through VAT to the government the services they receive in return is very small,” he added. The Maewo MP pointed to falling voter turnout numbers every time during elections as a possible resulting effect.

He said many times Members of Parliament get blamed for a lot of things but he insisted it was the machinery behind Government, who were civil servants who should be the ones to do their part “better”.

Naviso, the only village on remote eastern Maewo with a population of over 500 people is one of the most isolated places in the country due to its great communication challenges. And the telemedicine system at Naviso uses a high speed internet broadband through satellite for teleconferencing purposes where a nurse at Naviso clinic can discuss a medical case and get advice on treatment with a doctor in Luganville or Port Vila.