News

A ‘GIFT’ of 60 Apple Mac Book computers worth about VT10 million to all MPs was a form of bribery and was not acceptable, says a Pentecost MP. Speaking from Pentecost, Francois Chani told The Independent Online news that he had put the computer back in its box and would return it to the Speaker when he returned to Port Vila.

AID totalling VT 142 million for Malampa and Penama provinces has been approved at the Council of Ministers (COM) meeting yesterday. They have also declared disaster zones in both islands which have been ravaged by Cyclone Hola and Ambae’s Manaro volcano. Disaster Zones have been declared over five priority areas identified in the assessment reports – North, NW and NE Malekula; West Malo; Central Pentecost; SE & SW Ambae; North Amb ...

THOUSANDS of people in Vanuatu’s West Ambae are being forced to use umbrellas when they go outside because of constant ash fall from the island’s Manaro volcano The volcano had forced the compulsory evacuation of the island’s 11,000 people last December. Speaking from his village in West Ambae, Chief Zacchaeus said all the crops they have planted on their return after the evacuation have been ruined and the environment looks as i ...

THE Government of Japan today signed a US$5.2m agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) which will allow its current parliamentary development work to six Pacific Parliaments. The Strengthening Legislatures in Pacific Island Countries Project will run from 2018 for three years. The program will allow UNDP to provide new support to the Parliaments of Samoa, Republic of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Microne ...

AON Corporation, the leading global provider of risk management and insurance services and Vanuatu’s principal insurance service since 2000 is now independently owned and trading as Vanuatu Insurance Brokers Ltd. The transition has taken nine months to achieve after Aon (New Zealand) approached its Vanuatu based General Manager Bob Sanders to purchase the brokerage and transform it to a Vanuatu company.

PORT Vila Lapetasi International Multi-Purpose Wharf has officially opened after two years of construction work. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai said it was an historical day for the people of Vanuatu and especially the Chiefs and people of Ifira. Mr Salwai said that they are happy to declare that this terminal now begins full operations to work with international shipping agencies and operators.

VANUATU has become the fifth country in the Pacific to receive support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through a three-year Parliament strengthening project with funding from the New Zealand Government’s Aid Program. The UNDP Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI) was initially a NZ$3m funded project providing support to the Parliaments of Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

AIR Vanuatu has announced additional capacity on international routes with an agreement to lease a Boeing 737 from Nauru Airlines during peak season ongoing until January 2020. The additional aircraft will operate new services between Brisbane and Santo and Vila on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays each week commencing mid June 2018. “Leasing this aircraft allows our own 737 to increase services to Sydney and Auckland,” chief execut ...

THE Public Land Transport Authority (PLTA) will control the amount of buses/taxis in Port Vila. Speaking to the Independent Online, Donald Massing, President of the Public Land Transport Association in Port Vila said the PLTA will control permits and monitor situations at the wharf. “At first the Municipal and other car dealers were buying permits for VT10,000 and selling them for VT 60,00O plus the price of the Korean Hyundai buses, ...

THE ACTIV (Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu) Association is 10 years old, and to celebrate this event a large exhibition is being staged. Information on all the projects achieved by the organization for the last decade are displayed alongside ACTIV’s large own brand AELAN products range, which was developed with communities and small-scale producers from the Vanuatu archipelago. The AELAN products range from handicrafts to award ...