Vanuatu’s new cabinet named
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau has named his cabinet after he was sworn in on Friday. The line up of ministerial portfolios saw a former Prime Minister and President of the People’s Progressive Party
Vanuatu
Kalsakau elected new Vanuatu PM
After more than six hours of the first sitting of the new Vanuatu Parliament, former Vanuatu Deputy PM Ishmael Kalsakau was elected by an overwhelming majority of 50 out of 52 Members to be Prime Minister of the Pacific
Avoiding a WASHout
There has been a significant decline in donor funding for water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Pacific, as the region continues to lag behind the Sustainable Development Goals on access to water. A recent study
Vanuatu deputy PM confident of forming new Govt
The camp led by Vanuatu’s caretaker deputy prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau has reiterated that it remains a solid grouping of 30 MPs and that it will name its prime minister and cabinet line-up on Friday. A second
Pacific aid surges as China, U.S vie for influence
Regional powers poured record amounts of cash into the Pacific Islands during the coronavirus pandemic to help them weather the economic fallout as competition for influence heats up between China and the West. An
PACIFICi Portal to assist investigative anti-corruption efforts
With the Pacific Island region increasingly impacted by organised transnational crime, international drug and people smuggling, money laundering and corruption, a new web-based investigative tool, PACIFICi, is set to
Vanuatu: New Coalition Govt in the making
The official results of the Snap Election has reconfirmed the unofficial results — none of the country’s major political parties who contested the snap elections on October 13 have secured the simple majority of
Second political pact signed in Vanuatu
The signing of another agreement by representatives of the political parties who were excluded from the new Vanuatu Government formation took place Thursday night. The parties involved are Vanua’aku Pati (VP),
Vanuatu: Pact signed to form new government
The formation of Vanuatu’s new Government is in the works, after a pact signing between 31 candidates of the snap election who have secured seats in their respective constituencies, according to unofficial
Vanuatu snap election: Many MPS returned
In Vanuatu, unofficial results in some constituencies have revealed that many Members of Parliament (MPs) in the last legislature have been re-elected. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports that at least 25 of the 51 former
Vanuatu snap election: International observers arrive
There are a total of 49 regional and international observers currently in Vanuatu to monitor the running of the October 13 snap election. The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s
Oceania Rugby men’s championship returns to PNG
The 2022 Oceania Rugby Men’s Championship will be hosted by Papua New Guinea Rugby Union at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on October 19-27, Oceania Rugby confirmed today. The tournament returns for the first time
Fisheries businesses off to Mauritius
Seven members of the business community across the region have been selected for a business peer-to-peer exchange programme in Mauritius this month. Pacific Islands Forum Director of Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak
Vanuatu Snap Election countdown
All ballot boxes are expected to be dispatched to all 18 respective constituencies in Vanuatu by today. The first dispatch of the ballot boxes occurred over the weekend for the Noumea Polling Station in New Caledonia.
PNG tops Pacific Women’s T20 comp
At the conclusion of the Pacific Women’s T20 Cricket competition yesterday, the undefeated Papua New Guinea team finished in top spot followed by hosts Vanuatu. Samoa finished in third place and Fiji in fourth. The
Major powers question Marshall Islands nuclear legacy bid
Nuclear powers have criticised an effort led by the Marshall Islands at the United Nations to seek help on dealing with the consequences of nuclear testing, sources following the talks involving countries including the
VT150 million for Vanuatu snap election
The total budget to run the upcoming Vanuatu snap election is VT150 million (US$1.2 million), Electoral Commission Chairman, Edward Kaltamat confirmed. In addition to that, the Australian government has also stepped in
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
