217 applicants for Vanuatu snap election
At least 217 individuals have applied to contest the upcoming Vanuatu snap election. Deputy Principal Electoral Officer (PEO), Gary Tavoa, confirmed this was the total number of applications they received out from over
Pacific to seek deferment of UN vote on Climate Justice
Vanuatu and its regional coalition partners will be seeking a deferral of the vote on the climate justice initiative to the end of 2022, to allow more time to lobby for a simple majority vote. This was conveyed by the
No Constitutional Infringement: Vanuatu Chief Justice Lunabek
The Vanuatu Supreme Court has dismissed an urgent constitutional application from the 27 signatories of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Bob Loughman, the Daily Post reports. Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek
Vanuatu ‘snap election timeline’ announced
In Vanuatu, over 300,000 registered voters will go to the polls for a snap election on October 13. The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s parliament on August 19 by President Nikenike
Verdict on Vanuatu Dissolution to be declared September 9
The constitutional case to decide whether or not there will be an early election in Vanuatu will not be decided until the end of this week. At Friday’s hearing before Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, the counsel for the
Air Vanuatu confirms interim plan with lessor to safeguard 737
The national airline Air Vanuatu has confirmed that its Boeing 737 is at risk of repossession by its lessor. Air Vanuatu owed USD$8 million lease payments to American Leasing Company (ALC), which is approximately VT897
Air Vanuatu YJ-AV12 twin-otter repossessed
Air Vanuatu’s YJ-AV12 twin-otter has been redelivered to Hevilift, a Papua New Guinea based Aviation Service Business which owns the aircraft, last week. A reliable source confirmed the aircraft was repossessed
‘Everyone’s business’ – Vanuatu reopens to tourists
Vanuatu reopened to tourists on July 1, but there is still some work to do to reopen properties that have been shuttered for two years and fill frontline tourism positions. Virgin Australia says it will resume its
Climate finance crunch
The Pacific Islands Forum is taking another look at its ambitions to take control of resilience funding following the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu this month. The hybrid meeting saw attending delegates
Opening the window
Vanuatu is leading the region in the use of an Electronic Single Window System to ensure trade documentation is organised in a more efficient and transparent way. The manager for the Electronic Single Window Project,
USP Emalus Campus to resolve internet problem
The Director of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Emalus Campus, Dr Andrew McKenzie, believes that a stable and effective contract with the Vanuatu government is the way forward to avoid the ongoing internet
Vanuatu Dissolution to be contested September 2
The constitutional case filed by 27 former Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs) challenging the legality of the Council of Minister’s (COM) advice for Parliament dissolution, is now set for hearing next Friday.
MSG PM Cup will still be held in Vanuatu
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Ministers Cup organising committee has confirmed that its upcoming event scheduled for September 17-30 in Vanuatu will go ahead, despite the dissolution of parliament. Acting
Vanuatu opposition lodge constitutional application
The 27 signatories of the motion of no confidence against Vanuatu caretaker Prime Minister, Bob Loughman, have filed an urgent constitutional application on the dissolution of the Parliament. Former Vanuatu Opposition
Vanuatu’s parliament dissolved
Vanuatu’s new President, Nikenike Vurobaravu has dissolved the country’s parliament just over halfway through the current four-year-term. President Vurobaravu signed the instrument for the dissolution of
Eye disease trachoma eliminated in Vanuatu, leads the way for Pacific push
The Fred Hollows Foundation has welcomed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) confirmation that Vanuatu has eliminated the eye disease trachoma as a public health problem. The Foundation, with the support of The
Vanuatu no-confidence vote set for Friday
Vanuatu’s embattled prime minister Bob Loughman has confirmed he will attend the next sitting of an extra-ordinary parliament session on Friday to face a motion of no-confidence in his leadership. Loughman and 20 MPs
Civil Society Organisation Response – PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECREATARIATFORUM ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEETING DIALOGUE WITH CSOsTheme: Clustering for Regional Post-COVID Economic Recovery and StabilityWarwick Le Lagoon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu12 August 2022
Forum Economic Ministers Meeting: a marriage of national priorities and regional strategies
Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting about their economic priorities and regional opportunities.
Crypto ‘an unstable financial asset’ says UNCTAD
Cryptocurrency is an “unstable financial asset that can bring social risks and costs”, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned in three policy briefs on Wednesday. UNCTAD said their benefits to
Vanuatu at the FEMM: fuel prices, climate costs and supply chain challenges
The Vanuatu government hopes moves to set up fuel depot locally will help stabilise fuel prices in the country. Discussions in the leadup to the Forum Economic Minister’s Meeting which gets underway in Vanuatu today,
Vanuatu ministers lodge Motion of No Confidence
Attempts to change the Government’s democratic system tops the list of five reasons given by some MPs in the Motion of No Confidence against Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman. “The attempt to make significant
Regional economic ministers to meet: “the sense of urgency is real”
The 2022 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting which gets underway in Vanuatu this week will see regional ministers and officials discuss post-Covid economic recovery, alongside improved access to important dialogues for the