Sato Kilman was removed as Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Minister of Lands by Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau yesterday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jotham Napat, has been appointed as the new Deputy Prime Minister.
It marked the first significant change by Mr. Kalsakau after just six months in government.
He did not elaborate on the dismissal but only said that he had to take the decision for the stability of the current coalition government.
The termination of Mr. Kilman has already been signalled in the corridors of Parliament on May 19, 2023 when a motion of no confidence against PM Kalsakau signed by nine members of the Opposition was expected to be tabled in parliament.
At that time, there was a claim that Malampa MPs had formed a block to back the opposition motion.
After the withdrawal of the motion by its mover, the Opposition Leader Bob Loughman, one of Malampa’s MPs from the constituency of Malekula, Anatole Hymack denied his involvement in the motion in the chamber.
Mr. Hymack has disassociated himself from the so-called Malampa MPs.Sato
There are currently nine MPs in Malampa province, six in Malekula, two in Ambrym, and one in Paama. Malampa province is composed of three islands. One seat on Malekula is currently declared vacant by the Supreme Court.
Kilman was involved in the negotiations of the formation of the new government after the last snap election and the election of Mr. Kalsakau as the new Prime Minister.
Mr. Kilman’s PPP (Peoples Progressive Party) is the 8th political party that was at the Aquana camp on Efate to form the new coalition government after he managed to secure one of the seven seats for the Santo constituency.
He said at that time during a press conference there were eight political parties at the camp and they were going to maintain stability in the next four-year term.
Mr. Kilman is the first minister that was terminated by Mr. Kalsakau.
Recently Torba MP Christophe Emelee resigned as Minister of Internal Affairs but he remains on the government side.
It remains to be seen if Mr. Kilman will remain on the government side or join the opposition bloc of Mr. Loughman.
The Daily Post attempted to contact Mr. Kilman to get his comments over his termination by Mr. Kalsakau but attempts were unsuccessful.
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post
