US congratulates new Vanuatu PM Charlot Salwai

The United States government has congratulated newly elected Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

The Embassy of the United States of America issued the statement from Ambassador-Designate Catherine Ebert-Gray.

“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my sincerest congratulations to the Honorable Charlot Salwai on his election as the next Prime Minister of Vanuatu.

The United States looks forward to continuing our close cooperation with Vanuatu through Prime Minister Salwai’s new government.

“The partnership between our nations is built on a foundation of shared values, deeply-rooted history, and mutual interests. That partnership is demonstrated daily through the ongoing commitment of our dedicated Peace Corps volunteers who work hand-in-hand with their Ni-Vanuatu friends and co-workers. The United States seeks to further deepen this relationship through continued cooperation on a wide range of issues, including international security, economic development, human rights, and environmental protection, including addressing the challenges of climate change, said the US Government statement.

SOURCE: VANUATU LOOP/PACNEWS

Benny Wenda Congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister of Vanuatu

Benny Wenda, the Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has wrote a letter to congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai,on behalf of the people of West Papua, The United Liberation Movement for West Papuan.

Mr. Wenda wrote, as West Papuans always closely follow the lives of their Melanesian brothers and sisters and they are all very happy to have witnessed the free and democratic election in the Republic of Vanuatu.

As Melanesian’s, they know that the Republic of Vanuatu has always taken a noble lead in supporting the West Papuan and speaking out against the suffering and oppression in West Papua.

Police Commissioner Challenges suspended.

Daily Post report the Commissioner of Police, John Taleo has filed a constitutional case against the Police Service Commission over his suspension last year, 2015.

According to Daily Post, Mr. Taleo was suspended by the Prime Minister following recommendation from the Police service commission March last year after he was involved in a road accident that saw him crashed an official police car on the side walk.

Taleo’s case is still in conference stages and it is yet to seen how far it will get since he has already been reinstated as police commissioner.

Author:

Daily Post.

Vanuatu runway repairs hoped to be done by April

Vanuatu’s new government has announced a contractor for the emergency upgrade of the country’s main international airport, with work expected to begin within weeks.

Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Virgin Australia last month stopped flying to Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport citing concerns about the runway’s safety.

The new prime minister, Charlot Salwai, says repairing the runway is one of his top priorities, and the public utilities ministry yesterday awarded the contract to New Zealand company Fulton Hogan.

The government is seeking a World Bank loan to carry out the work, which is estimated to cost about US$1.2 million.

The ministry says it hopes to have the runway repaired by early April, when the country’s peak tourist season begins.

Author: 

Radio New Zealand.

Fiji’s PM congratulates newly-elected Vanuatu counterpart

Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has congratulated his newly-elected Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai.

In a congratulatory message to Salwai, Bainimarama said his appointment came at a challenging period in Vanuatu’s history.

“On behalf of the government and people of Fiji, I extend to you our heartfelt congratulations on the election of your new government and I warmly congratulate you on your appointment as prime minister of the Republic of Vanuatu,” Bainimarama said in the message, according to Fiji’s Department of Information.

“Vanuatu and Fiji have a long and unique warm bilateral relationship and we have worked together closely on many areas of common interest both at sub-regional and regional level. Under your leadership, I look forward to continuing this and also growing our ties and taking our relations further for the mutual benefit of our two peoples,” the Fijian prime minister added.

Salwai was elected on Thursday as Vanuatu’s new prime minister by the country’s newly-elected parliament, garnering votes of 46 of the total 52 MPs.

 

Tags:

Fiji

Vanuatu

PM Voreqe Bainimarama

Author:

Xinhua

 

First election petition lodged in Vanuatu

A candidate who contested the 2016 snap election in the constituency of Pentecost in Vanuatu has lodged an election petition with the Supreme Court in Port Vila.

Both the Supreme Court and the Electoral Office confirmed that Dr. Richard Leona, an independent candidate, has lodged an election petition and is calling for a recount of the results in the above constituency.

The constituency of Pentecost has four seats and after conflicting unofficial results between two candidates for the 4th seat, the final official results put Dr. Leona with 579 votes, a difference of eight votes from National United Party’s Ham Lini who secured 587 votes.

The Supreme Court Registry Office said a date is yet to be set for the hearing.

In the meantime, the Electoral Office said this is the first Election Petition to be lodged and registered in court for hearing, but there are talks of other looming petitions.

The Electoral Office also confirmed that any election petitions must be lodged in Court, fees paid and registered 21 days after the official results is published in the Official Gazette by the State Law Office.

According to the Electoral Office, there is no appeal pending the outcome by the Court, under the relevant provisions under the People’s Representation Act.

The 21st day will lapse on February 21, 2016

 

Tags:

Vanuatu

election petition

Author:

PACNEWS