Vanuatu rolls out Right to Information legislation throughout Govt agencies
Posted: August 5, 2017 Filed under: The Daily Digest | Tags: disaster preparedness, domestic violence, right to information, Vanuatu, water Comments Off on Vanuatu rolls out Right to Information legislation throughout Govt agencies
The order enacting Vanuatu’s Right To Information legislation was signed yesterday morning by Deputy Prime Minister Joe Natuman. The signing names the first government agencies to be involved. Seven are going into the first implementation: Customs, Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Tourism and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. The Prime Minister has signed the appointment letters of the Steering Committee members. As well as Government representatives there are private sector members. The RTI Act was passed a year ago.
Police are holding a man who stabbed to death his partner on Read the rest of this entry »
Vanuatu set to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2020
Posted: July 25, 2017 Filed under: The Daily Digest | Tags: disaster preparedness, trade, Vanuatu 1 Comment
Vanuatu Deputy PM Joe Natuman with WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo this week at the 2017 Aid for Trade Global Review in Geneva. Photo: WTO
Mark your diary: Vanuatu will cease to be a Least Developed Country (LDC) in 2020. DPM Joe Natuman is attending the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s 2017 Aid for Trade Biennial Review in Geneva, Switzerland. He has attended some 50 sessions while there. “Inclusiveness, and Connectivity for Sustainable Development” is the theme of the event. The Aid for Trade Initiative of the World Trade Organization was launched in 2005. LDC is a UN category that currently affords Vanuatu special treatment from certain trading partners in terms of preferential quotas, duty exemptions and prices, some of which will cease when Vanuatu graduates to the next category, Developing Country.
At 4pm sharp Thursday (26 July) the sirens attached to each of the tsunami warning towers in Port Vila will blast Read the rest of this entry »
Its Pacific cyclone season – please sign this petition and help save lifesaving shortwave radio to our islands
Posted: December 16, 2016 Filed under: Community Service Announcement | Tags: Australia, broadcasting, cyclone, disaster preparedness, shortwave radio, Vanuatu 2 Comments
The ABC’s shortwave radio broadcasts helped many in Vanuatu during Cyclone Pam in 2015.
As you read this, a cyclone is forming east of Vanuatu. As people in Vanuatu are well aware, up-to-date information is critical when preparing for a natural disaster.
Unfortunately, in the middle of the Pacific cyclone season, Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, says it will end shortwave radio broadcasts to the Pacific Islands by 31st January.
This decision puts lives at risk in Vanuatu and the rest of the Pacific. The ABC’s shortwave service provide lifesaving information during cyclones and other disasters as well as playing an important role in ensuring media freedom. Here in Vanuatu, during Cyclone Pam in 2015, ABC shortwave broadcasts helped people outside of the range of FM radio and cellular phone towers keep up to date with cyclone warnings. The service undoubtedly helped ni-Vanuatu people prepare and may have even saved lives.
The Pacific Freedom Forum has organised a petition to let decision-makers in Australia know how vital the ABC’s shortwave radio services are for us in the Pacific. Will you please help?
Please click this link to sign the petition.
Thank you.
President Lonsdale calls for more responsibility, less selfishness from political leaders
Posted: December 13, 2016 Filed under: The Daily Digest | Tags: disaster management, disaster preparedness, education, parliament, politics, shipping, Sport, Vanuatu Comments Off on President Lonsdale calls for more responsibility, less selfishness from political leaders
“The security, rights and needs of people must predominate in leaders’ thinking”, says President Baldwin Lonsdale.
The Head of State made Vanuatu’s security the cornerstone of his address in opening the second ordinary sitting of Parliament yesterday. “Leaders must understand that they must take action to avoid violence and corruption proliferating and become aware that people are fearing for their lives”, said President Lonsdale. “The security, rights and needs of people must predominate in leaders’ thinking, and people want to express themselves on these issues, and be heard.” President Baldwin Lonsdale inspected a guard of honour before officially opening the second ordinary sitting. (Radio Vanuatu)
The Speaker of Parliament Esmon Saimon withdrew two Private Members’ Bills from the agenda of the current Parliament sitting yesterday. He stated that they had not Read the rest of this entry »
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