Vanuatu Govt halts vaccine protest march
The Vanuatu Government has pulled the plug on a planned march yesterday in Port Vila to protest the rules around COVID-19 vaccines, specifically vaccination of children. The protestors, involving church and youth
Vanuatu volcano activity sparks warning
Volcanic activity at Vanuatu’s Mount Garet on Gaua Island has increased under Alert Level 2, which is the major level of unrest, reports the Vanuatu Daily Post. Observations confirmed current activity consists of
Commercial kava pilot off to a flying start
When the Australian government gave the green light for a two-year commercial kava pilot program in December last year, “the excitement was palpable,” Australia's Minister for International Development and Pacific,
Pharmaceutical market now ‘risky’
Geographical indicators to be developed for kava A leading kava scientist in the Pacific has labelled as "risky" any kava comeback in the pharmaceutical market, stressing that success of the crop as an export commodity
MPs seek regional dialogue on deep sea mining
A new alliance of parliamentarians from across the Pacific has called for a regional dialogue on the potential impacts of deep sea mining. The public launch of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining
Vanuatu curfew lifted, schools and workplaces to reopen
Vanuatu’s government has decided to lift the 8pm-6am curfew and relax other restrictions which were in place for almost two months, as COVID-19 cases decline on Efate and offshore islands. From Friday, there are
Concerns raised as Vanuatu, Palau explore crypto projects
The recent greenlighting of cryptocurrency projects in Vanuatu and Palau have raised concerns over the lack of an advisory body in the
Vanuatu withdraws from FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Vanuatu have pulled out of Oceania’s qualification tournament for the World Cup finals in Qatar after a majority of their players and staff tested positive for COVID-19, the country’s football federation
EU Council partially suspends Vanuatu visa waiver agreement
The Council of the European Union(EU) has decided to partially suspend the visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu due to what it says are risks posed by its investor citizenship schemes, also known as ‘golden passport’
Pacific corruption scores continue to stagnate: Urgent action required
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index adds Fiji as a fourth Pacific nation, as stagnation demonstrates the critical importance of corruption reform in the region to secure basic rights and freedoms.
Australian Seasonal Worker scheme ‘rife with abuse’: Inquiry
Supermarket shelves are filled with fruit and vegetables but the people who harvest them are sometimes being paid just A$100 (US$71) for a 64-hour work week. On Wednesday, seasonal workers detailed exploitation at the
Stan and the Earth Force talk Vanuatu music
By Rowena Singh Stan Antas, founder and lead singer of Vanuatu’s Stan & the Earth Force, says music has always been part of his life, and part of Vanuatu’s culture. “We're big on reggae here and our local
Opinion: Europe’s efforts to vilify Vanuatu’s Citizenship Program are tone deaf, protectionist and foolish
In a press call on 12 January, the European Union announced that it may look to suspend its bilateral agreement with Vanuatu, which allows citizens of the Pacific nation to enter, visa free. This obstruction—which
Vanuatu students learn to farm and save
By Len Garae Vanuatu’s government would like to see all Agriculture Farming Rural Training Centres copy the approach of NAPIL Farming Rural Training Centre, a rural community agriculture school where it is compulsory
Pacific leaders join call for delay in New Caledonia referendum
In a significant intervention, former Pacific island presidents, prime ministers and senior officials have written to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to delay the next referendum on self-determination in
Insuring against disasters
As November nears, the thoughts of many Pacific islanders turn to preparations for the South Pacific cyclone season. Are there matches and candles, batteries and bottled water in the house? Are the hurricane shutters in
Visiting gentle Yasur
By Len Garae. Photos: Kersom Richard The closure of borders has seen many Pacific islanders explore their own backyards. For more than one hundred of Vanuatu’s senior public servants, this year’s National Week of
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
Reeves Envico supports a COVID-safe environment in the Pacific
Reeves Envico is committed as an employer in supporting a healthy and COVID-safe environment across all our project sites and in the local communities we operate in. Our recent initiatives have helped workers access
A trip to Tanna
By Len Garae The thousands of people who converged on Laminu Stadium on Tanna Island for the recent National Week of Agriculture were living proof that Vanuatu is ready to produce, value-add and market its agricultural
Pacific island leaders at the UN General Assembly call for solidarity on COVID-19 and climate change
Pacific Island leaders at the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development.
Vanuatu at 41
Vanuatu was again able to throw the need for social distancing and mask-wearing to the wind as its people sang and danced to celebrate 41 years of Independence on July 30. Unlike its neighbours—Australia, New
Nurturing the seeds of MSMEs
Economists used to say that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were the backbone of Pacific Island countries. But as the impact of COVID-related border closures deepens almost 18 months into the crisis,