Trades Minister removed from office

Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai yesterday removed Bob Loughman from his position as Minister for Trades, Tourism, and Ni-Vanuatu Business.

Loughman’s removal is based on sub-article 42 of the Constitution, which allows the PM to appoint and remove cabinet members at any time.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Prime Minister’s Office, Hilaire Bule, confirmed the removal but did not know the reason behind it.

PM Salwai signed Loughman’s removal order before departing for the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday.

According to PRO Bule, the Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Johnny Koanapo, is serving as Acting PM until Salwai returns. A replacement for Loughman has yet to be announced.

Recently, Loughman, the Minister for Trades and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanna, announced his intention to challenge the election of his colleague, MP Koanapo, for the position of Vanua’aku Pati (VP) President in court.

Loughman is the former VP President. He, along with the Minister of Education and MP for Santo Rural, Samson Samsen, and Koanapo, were brought into the Salwai Government earlier this year to maintain support.

Loughman was removed just a day after declaring his intention to challenge the election of Minister Koanapo as VP President and the VP National Executive.

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Solomon Islands and Vanuatu sign Trivau Agreement to boost cross-border relations

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, left, and Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas shaking hands after the signing of the ‘Tirvau’ agreement. Photo: Solomon Islands / Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade

The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have signed a border agreement to further strengthen the "cultural and historical ties" between the two Melanesian nations.

The Tirvau Agreement was signed by the prime ministers of the two countries in Honiara on 21 June.

The agreement is expected to boost cross-border relations between Solomon Islands' Temotu and Vanuatu's Torba provinces.

Temotu is the easternmost province of Solomon Islands, located closer to Vanuatu than Honiara, while Torba - comprised of Torres and Banks island groups - is the northernmost and least populous province of Vanuatu.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) said in a press release Tirvau is the feather money used by the people of Temotu.

"It signifies the diversity that exists in our countries and the value placed on our relations.

"The Tirvau basic border Agreement is the overarching framework that will govern and regulate the joint border arrangements and movements between the maritime border of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu."

The agreement is an extension of the Motalava Treaty between the two nations signed in October 2016, MFAET said.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said the areement is a testament that "we are one people, custodians of one solwara and that Melanesia is a reality".

"Tirvau has been a powerful trading system for our ancestors over thousands of years between the people from Temotu Province in the Solomon Islands and people from Torba Province in Vanuatu.

"Tirvau connects our two people and Tirvau brought peace and harmony between our two people.

"It is my hope and believe that the Agreement we sign today will continue to strengthen and bridge between our two people and to bring peace and harmony to our people."

His counterpart, Jeremiah Manele, said the agreement is about promoting peaceful relations, facilitating economic activities, and ensuring the effective governance of borders and cooperation on sectoral and humanitarian issues of mutual concern.

The agreement cements and binds current relations with a umi tugeda spirit, two wantok countries further formalising and recognising the traditional and cultural connections as Melanesians, Manele said, according to the MFAET release.

The border agreement will also allow for more visibility and transaction between the two countries for stronger connectivity, trading and economic growth.

While the two governments did not provide a date on when the framework comes into effect, Manele called on implementing authorities to be diligent in activating and operationalising the border agreement.

Meanwhile, Salwai said "embedded in the Tirvau Agreement is the spirit of the Melanesian way" and the signing of the agreement with Solomon Islands could set the platform for future border arrangement framework with other Melanesian countries.

"Vanuatu will seek to establish similar border arrangements with the government of New Caledonia (Kanaks) and the government of Fiji.

"We Melanesians must maintain our relationships in the Melanesian way."

Vanuatu's 27th PM Calls for Political Stability

By Doddy Morris

The newly elected Prime Minister (PM) of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, said the system of changing the Government regularly does not help the country in terms of development.

Mr. Salwai, who became Vanuatu’s 27th PM yesterday, stated this during his official speech at the Parliament House in Port Vila after defeating the former PM, Sato Kilman in a motion of no confidence.

He went on to say that the system of changing the Government regularly will not attract new potential investor to Vanuatu and is not assuring the citizens of Vanuatu since there is no stability and continuity on the policies.

“We all know that Vanuatu is facing various challenges, including natural disasters such as climate change-related issues, economic and social challenges affecting our citizens, including challenges in the private sector, and last but not least, political instability,” PM Salwai said.

“It is less than 12 months since the establishment of Mr. Ishmael Kalsakau’s government after the October 2022 snap elections. Today marks the second time that we, as a nation, have changed a government.

“I apologise to the previous government, but we find ourselves in a democratic system where the composition of Parliament can change, and the government must adapt accordingly,” the newly elected PM stated.

He continues to state that one of the main responsibilities of the government he leads is to find, together with the opposition, legal solutions to address political instability, any government that achieves an “absolute majority” should not assume that the country will automatically adopt a system of political stability.

“Vanuatu, in the past years under successive governments, has adopted many good policies such as the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) followed by each government ministry.

“We know that the government must address issues such as infrastructure, transportation, sea and air transportation, the national airline, utilities like telecommunications, energy, and water, education accessibility, and various issues concerning private sector growth and the legal vacuum within the public administration system. These issues require urgent attention,” the PM stated.

“A government with good policies must not fall into the trap of concentrating solely on programs that are hindered by slow progress due to civil servant inefficiency. An example is the recovery projects after natural disasters like cyclones or volcanic eruptions, which the people expect the government to deliver efficiently. People may blame the government for not doing its job, but in reality, the power to execute tasks lies in the hands of civil servants. However, when a government is concerned about its survival, it may not have the time to push its workers to perform.

“The government also needs to come up with new policies in response to the rapid global changes. This government will put a strong emphasis on foreign policy, something Vanuatu has not had since 1980. There are many opportunities out there for Vanuatu to capitalise on, but we must have the right policies in place to benefit from these opportunities.”

He announced that within two weeks’ time, his government will publish all the priority action programs which they will be working with during his term.

“I address you today as the head of Government, and we must take political instability seriously. We have a draft bill that is ready for review to suit the political environment of Vanuatu. Vanuatu’s rules must allow for different governments, but there are times when we need to have stability.

“I also appeal to the Head of State, the Chiefs of Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, and the Church leaders through the Vanuatu Christian Council to support the government in its efforts to achieve political stability,” the PM said.

Mr. Salwai is serving as the PM of the Republic of Vanuatu for the second time. He was elected as the 23rd PM of Vanuatu on the 2nd of February in 2016 and served for four years till 20th of April 2020.

He had also served as an MP in the 7th Legislature from 2002 to 2004, 8th Legislature from 2004 to 2008, 9th Legislature from 2008 to 2012, 10th Legislature from 2012 to 2015, 11th legislature from 2016 to 2020 and the 13th legislature from 2020 to October 2022.

The newly elected government did not manage to appoint a Deputy PM (DPM) yesterday. PM Salwai stated that they will be meeting soon to appoint one.

doddy@dailypost.vu