Emelee opposes increasing government cabinet

“If political stability means to offer the people of Vanuatu a predictable political environment bringing benefits to all in society reducing poverty, increasing State revenues and investment in welfare and education, then I welcome the initiative recently taken by the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, Tabimasmas,” says Opposition Whip and MP for Torres Group Christophe Emelee.

“However, I doubt securing political stability through reforms of the ministerial structure of the Vanuatu Government would bring benefits to all in society,” he adds in a statement.

“The creation of new portfolios as currently tabled by the Government would be nothing else than an opportunist decision guided primarily by self-interested motives.

“Such reform would bring “no benefits to all” since securing political support by rewarding members of the political majority with new political appointments.”

He says reforming the ministerial structure would require amending the Constitution of Vanuatu, the supreme law of the Republic of Vanuatu which came into force upon our country’s independence on 30 July 1980.

Emelee adds that the Constitution asserts Vanuatu to be a “sovereign democratic state”, with sovereignty vested in “the people of Vanuatu which they exercise through their elected representatives” and he is strongly opposed to amend the Constitution of the people of Vanuatu for the sole purpose of “self-interested motives”.

“The majority is currently made of 38 Members of Parliament, how many new ministries would be really required to secure an unfailing political support -15, 20? I say that the number isn’t relevant since whatever the decision; it would not satisfy everyone who could in return decide to leave the majority as history has already proven,” he says.

“Our Government is currently made of 13 Ministries with their respective Departments and adding 2 additional ministries would increase the Government expenditures to the detriment of the existing Ministries and Departments which are today financially struggling.

“Surely, someone should wonder why a small country like ours would need 15 Ministries when most of the European countries have an average of 16 ministries for sometimes more than 60 million inhabitants. The conclusion is that our country does not need 2 additional ministries.

“Securing political stability on the long run implies wide-ranging reforms and surely not reforms of the ministerial structure as currently proposed. In fact, promoting the political stability we want to engender development of our great nation requires an effective leadership because leadership is a key to a prosperous and peaceful life and nation quality with its potential of transforming the workforce into a willing and winning team.”

Opposition Whip Emelee continues that Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, should therefore secure his own majority “through an effective leadership, a tool for achieving political stability and national development and should not embark into ministerial structure reforms that will not create the political stability the people of Vanuatu are expecting.

“We need a leader who will bring hope and gain confidence of the people of Vanuatu to make things happen to address unemployment, provide basic infrastructure and services, electricity, water supply, healthcare and education to all.

“We need a leader who will reduce cost and transform the existing workforce into a productive taskforce. We need a leader who will secure and not jeopardize existing Public/ Private Partnerships in highly technical fields (energy, telecommunication, fishing, shipping sectors) that all require expertise that the Government does not have,” he adds.

He says what the country does “not need is a leader willing to amend the Constitution for the purpose of distributing new positions to all members of the coalition Government.”