Monthly Archives

September 2023

Be ready to jump off’

by admin September 30, 2023

written by admin

A rescue team led by the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) Maritime Wing yesterday successfully saved the lives of five people on an Air Taxi aircraft after the engine went off mid-air.

The pilot of the sunken plane, Captain Duncan Lawson, said during their arrival at the Mala Base wharf in Port Vila around 7pm yesterday that they are happy to be alive.

It was said that the five passengers were travelling to Erromango Island with one of Air Taxi’s plane when the incident occurred.

According to the VPF Maritime Wing, they departed at 3:30pm yesterday and took the course according to the coordinates they received.

The team went out to Pango Point, travelled towards the position they received and located the plane around 5 o’clock.

“We understand that the plane was circulating on air is showing us that this is where the victims was floating. We then located the raft at exactly 5:10pm and recovered all of them at around 5:15pm.

“All of them are safe, we also recover the live raft on board so we departed for Port Vila around 5:20pm and arrived in Port Vila at 6:45pm,” the VPF Maritime Wing stated.

Air Taxi’s statement relayed that the plane experienced a loss of power and had to ditch in the water and that the event accentuates the unparalleled preparedness and exemplary training of their pilots and crew at Air Taxi Vanuatu, reflecting their commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards and the well-being of their passengers.

“The immediate actions and calm professionalism of our pilot, combined with the effectiveness of our advanced equipment including GPS tracking and life rafts, played a crucial role in the speedy resolution of this incident,” they stated.

“We wish to reassure all our valued customers, partners, and stakeholders that an in-depth investigation is already in progress to ascertain the cause of the incident and to reinforce our preventive measures, affirming our unwavering commitment to safety and reliability in our services.”

One of the survivors disclosed the engine went off between 12 to 1 o’clock, and as they were heading for the water the pilot told them to open the doors and to be ready to jump off the plane.

“The engine went off, the pilot tried to restart the plane but the engine was totally off. If it was on land everyone will be dead.

“We saw two planes when we were in the water, the first one did not see us, the second one saw us and dropped some water bottles and another raft, we cannot manage to get the bottles of water since they were dropped a long distance from us,” the survivor said.

“We also had to use a container to remove water from the raft since there were five of us in a raft and water kept coming in.”

The rescue operation was carried out by the VPF, in particular the crew on Emma Kate, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Defence Force and Robin Deamer (Unity Airlines).

doddy@dailypost.vu

September 30, 2023 0 comment

Solomon Islands

Solomons PM Sogavare claims Melanesian Spearhead Group ditch West Papua independence talks

by admin September 28, 2023

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Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is not pursuing independence for West Papua.

Sogavare has clarified why he did not bring up West Papua’s independence in the UN General Assembly upon his return to Honiara from New York on Wednesday.

In-depth Solomons reports Sogavare saying the MSG agreed not to pursue independence for West Papua in its last meeting.

He said pursuing independence at the MSG level has historically led to unnecessary human rights violations against the people of West Papua, as it becomes closely linked to the independence movement.

Sogavare said the sub-regional bloc’s new strategy involves initiating a discussion with the Indonesian government.

He said the focus is on treating the people of West Papua as part of Melanesia and urging the government of Indonesia to respect them accordingly.

At the UN General Assembly, Sogavare brought up the independence issue of New Caledonia and French Polynesia, but not West Papua.

He said the issue of independence and self-determination is a domestic matter that West Papua needs to address internally.

Sogavare said the UN Special Committee on Decolonization has established a process allowing them the right to determine their self-determination.

This committee, a subsidiary of the UN General Assembly, is dedicated to matters related to granting independence to colonial countries and peoples.

September 28, 2023 0 comment

Opinion Papua New Guinea Socio-Culture

Our democracy, our Melanesian Way

by admin September 16, 2023

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“Is there a democratic Papua New Guinean nation – or is it merely an arbitrary nation built on a shaky, crumbling foundation of disparate traditional customs and the Melanesian Way?

Has the system of government become a hybrid of concepts that fail to work on any level – a bastardisation of both democracy and custom?” Susan Merrell asked in her article, published in the PNG Echo on July 13, 2015.

Paul Oates, in another article published on PNG Attitude on July 2021, remarked that, “It has taken me a long time to reach an understanding of what the problem was leading up to Papua New Guinea’s
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/our-democracy-our-melanesian-way/ 1/3
9/16/23, 9:01 AM Our democracy, our Melanesian Way – Post Courier
independence.

In that article, titled “System we gave PNG just doesn’t work” Oates argued that “At the time, in the 1970s, the thought process was that the Westminster system works for us in Australia, this we can impose this obviously working system as a unifying force for a people and their many hundreds of cultures.

Oates, Merrell and many other critics have contented that democracy has failed in PNG and as Oates puts it, “the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy would never work when the majority of the people involved didn’t understand it and never would.

It is true a lot of our people were illiterate in 1975, the idea of independence was a beast travelling up the Highlands Highway, gobbling everything and everyone in its way and the Westminster system of government and elections were foreign concepts that were far removed from their traditional governance systems.

Educating the populace on what democracy was about was out of question. The high illiteracy level and the logistical nightmare would have made a massive public campaign hard.

Our founding fathers choose the democratic system of government over the other forms of Government, because this system was best for a country like PNG with a population divided by varying and distinct cultural practices and ideologies. It was a concept of government that would unify the people.

When the national constitution was adopted in 1975, it gave birth to the Westminster system of government, a concept that, if understood clearly, should have allowed our people to choose their government through regular, free and fair election.

But that was not to be. Without knowing what democracy was and what the Westminster system of government was, our people went to the first national general election in 1978.

Since that election, and at every other later election, our people have incorporated the Melanesian Way of leadership into the new democracy we adopted and a home-grown system had flourished. The results we have today is the price we are paying.

Compounding this is other underlying challenge like the integrity of the Electoral Roll that must be addressed.

Another issue is the weak political party system we have. A small country, PNG has 46 registered political parties to date, each with their own policy platforms. It is a nightmare for the voters, no one bothered to get to know all the political parties well.
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9/16/23, 9:01 AM Our democracy, our Melanesian Way – Post Courier
The country’s weak political party system is also the cause of the instability in the governments since 1975. In PNG, governments do not only change at the elections but on the floor of Parliament, through Motions of No Confidence in the prime minister.

The instability in PNG politics has forced Prime Ministers to spend more time and resources managing the politics rather than the government and country.

Furthermore, the “systemic and systematic” corruption, the escalating lawlessness and the decline in the economy are matters that are impacting on lives and businesses.

The challenges are huge, it will require massive legislative and structural reforms across all sectors of government to ensure PNG really meets its development goals moving into the next 50 years.
It will also take a massive change in mindset, attitudes and behaviours by our people to achieve true peace and harmony.

“that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” Abraham Lincoln, 16th USA President. The Gettysburg address, November 19,1863

September 16, 2023 0 comment

Papua New Guinea West Papua

Marape: PNG no right to comment on abuses in West Papua

by admin September 8, 2023

written by admin

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has told Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo that PNG has no right to criticise Jakarta over what he calls alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.

The two leaders spoke on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta, reaffirming commitments to maintain dialogue to build stronger and trustful relations that had been made when they met in Port Moresby in July.

Marape told Widodo he abstained from supporting the West Papuan bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group at last month’s meeting in Port Vila because the West Papuan United Liberation Movement (ULMWP) “does not meet the requirements of a fully-fledged sovereign nation”.

“Indonesia’s associate membership status also as a Melanesian country to the MSG suffices, which cancels out West Papua ULM’s bid,” Marape said referring to the ULMWP.

He said on the allegations of human rights issues in West Papua, that since PNG has its own challenges, it has no moral grounds to comment on human rights issues outside of its own jurisdiction.

The Indonesian president said the PNG deputy prime minister John Rosso will be invited to assess developments taking place in West Papua.

Widodo said Indonesia’s committed to building trustful and cooperative relations with all Pacific countries and will extend an invitation to their leaders to attend the Archipelagic Island States (AIS) Forum next month in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, on the planned electrification project in PNG’s western provinces, the two leaders pledged to ensure this project goes smoothly and is completed on time.

September 8, 2023 0 comment

Politics

MSG 22 – 1969 ‘Midnight Cry’ : PIF Resolution Looms! Again?

by admin September 8, 2023

written by admin

Prime Minister James Marape is in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. Again. He pushes PNG’s national interest.

The most recent MSG Leaders Summit 22 failed to resolve the West Papua issue. But, for now.

We chronicle the long road to freedom for West Papua.

The critical points:

1. MSG Leaders Summit 22 held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 23 – 24 August 2023 resolved to give one year moratorium before a decision is made on full membership for West Papua.

2. If full membership is granted, the process of decolonization is seen to be stepped up by MSG. Indonesia is playing its card to stop the decision citing its claim to sovereignty over the former Dutch colony.

3. Any UN resolution on West Papua requires the PIF collectively to respond to human rights reports including demands for self determination by indigenous Papuans brought to its notice.

4. West Papua is already before the PIF for deliberation. In 2018, it called for a fact – finding mission. Indonesia did not respond.

5. United Liberation Movement For West Papua (ULMWP) application for membership is to push the hand of PIF to act on West Papua.

So, here is the latest story of West Papua at the time MSG 22 met in Port Vila.

Key Trends:

✓ Armed clashes between state forces and the TPNPB have risen since 2018. Clashes increased by nearly 80% in 2021 in comparison with 2020.4

✓ Since 2018, armed clashes have spread geographically outside of the traditional TPNPB stronghold in the Black Triangle regencies of Puncak Jaya, Lanny Jaya, and Mimika (IPAC, 13 July 2022), with notable increases in the regencies of Intan Jaya, Puncak, and Yahukimo. Since the beginning of 2021, armed clashes between state forces and the TPNPB have been reported in over 20 new locations across the region where they had not previously been recorded in the ACLED dataset, which begins in 2015 for Indonesia.

✓ Violence targeting Papuan civilians by state forces and violence targeting civilians by the TPNPB have continued at high levels over the past two years, with a notable increase in TPNPB civilian targeting since 2020.

✓ Indonesian state security forces have dispersed or repressed peaceful protests featuring Papuans and Papuan groups more frequently than those not featuring Papuans and Papuan groups.

MSG 22 resolution on West Papua has implications in light of the story of West Papua.

The ‘ low – level insurgency’ seems more transformed in terms of science of armed combat aimed at the outcomes set.

For instance, TPNPB has moved from using rudimentary weapons to a growing supply of firearms, with police forces claiming that the TPNPB had purchased guns from dealers in Ambon, Papua New Guinea, and indirectly from the Philippines (Tribunnews, 23 May 2022).

On several occasions, members of state forces have been arrested for their involvement in gun trading with the TPNPB (Kompas, 24 February 2021). The increased supply of weapons has translated into more sustained battles as opposed to the hit-and-run incidents more often reported in the past (IPAC, 13 July 2022)

Read. Here:

https://acleddata.com/…/papuan-independence-and…/

(Photo caption: PM James Marape – he steps up on PNG/ Indonesia bilateral relations; in Jakarta, today for business deals signed with Indonesia; MSG 22 – West Papua issue left on the table for PIF to address; ULMWP leaders and diplomats – diplomatic option for roadmap to freedom for West Papua through decolonization still on track?; West Papua issue – it cannot be rushed, nor wished away)

September 8, 2023 0 comment

Papua New Guinea

Citing ‘God of Israel,’ Papua New Guinea becomes 5th nation to open Jerusalem embassy

by admin September 7, 2023

written by admin

Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Tuesday at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Papua New Guinean counterpart James Marape.

“Today is a milestone moment for my country Papua New Guinea,” Marape said. “We are here to give respect to the people of Israel to the fullest.”

Marape was explicit in laying out the religious motivation for the move, which makes Papua New Guinea the fifth country to open its embassy in Israel’s capital.

Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem “because of our shared heritage, acknowledging the creator God, the Yahweh God of Israel, the Yahweh God of Isaac and Abraham,” said Marape.

“You have been the great custodian of the moral values that were passed for humanity,” Marape said to Netanyahu.

“Many nations choose not to open their embassies in Jerusalem but we made the conscious choice. This has been the universal capital of the nation and people of Israel. For us to call ourselves Christians, paying respect to God will not be complete without recognizing that Jerusalem is the universal capital of the people and nation of Israel.”

Over 95 percent of Papua New Guineans are Christians, with Catholics forming the largest denomination.

Marape also asked Israel to open an embassy in Port Moresby, and offered to provide the land for the mission. There are currently no plans to do so, the Foreign Ministry told The Times of Israel.

Israel’s relations with the island nation, which were established in 1978, are handled by its embassy in Australia.

For us to call ourselves Christians, paying respect to God will not be complete without recognizing that Jerusalem is the universal capital of the people and nation of Israel.

The embassy is located in the Jerusalem Technology Park at the southern end of the city, where Guatemala and Honduras also have their embassies.

Marape told local media before taking off for his trip that Israel would fund much of the costs of the office for the first two years, and he confirmed this at Tuesday’s ceremony. Israel’s Channel 12 news on Wednesday quoted the Foreign Ministry saying similar arrangements apply for the embassies in Jerusalem of Honduras and Kosovo.

Marape also said that Israel was helping Port Moresby find a permanent location for its embassy.

“This is where so much of our heritage emerged from,” Netanyahu responded at the ceremony. “This is where our values were forged. This is where our prophets prophesied.”

“I think it’s fitting that a state and a people so deeply committed to these values do what you just did,” he continued.

Netanyahu was joined by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who had landed back in Israel hours earlier following his trip to Bahrain, and by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.

Netanyahu held a meeting with Marape in his office before the ceremony.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and his Papua New Guinean counterpart James Marape (C) meet at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, September 5, 2023. (Haim Zach/GPO)

Marape also toured Jerusalem’s Old City and Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Tuesday with his delegation, which includes a number of local pastors.

In February, the Foreign Ministry announced that Port Moresby would be making the move, after Foreign Minister Eli Cohen spoke with his Papua New Guinean counterpart, Justin Tkachenko.

Papua New Guinea’s embassy opening came on the heels of two similar announcements from other countries. In late August, Sierra Leone said that it would open an embassy in Jerusalem. Paraguay announced the week before that it would reopen its embassy in the Israeli capital as well.

Currently, the US, Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusalem.

Israel sees the moves as strengthening its claim to the city as its capital, though most foreign countries situate their embassies in or near Tel Aviv.

Hungary and Fiji are expected to announce embassy moves in the coming months as well.

Papua New Guinea is one of the Pacific nations that regularly vote with Israel at the United Nations, and Tkachenko told Cohen during their call that his country would continue to do so. In December, Papua New Guinea was one of the 25 countries that joined Israel in opposing the UN General Assembly resolution requesting that the International Court of Justice weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, in 2018 it voted to condemn the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, while five other Pacific nations rejected the condemnation.

The island nation’s geopolitical importance is on the rise as China and the US jockey for influence in the country and neighboring states in the Pacific Ocean. US President Joe Biden canceled a much-anticipated trip there in May, sending US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his stead.

Source: Times of Israel

September 7, 2023 0 comment

West Papua

Tabuni new ULMWP President

by admin September 7, 2023

written by admin

The population of West Papua represented by United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) have an Interim President to succeed Mr. Benny Wenda.

He is Mr. Manase Tabuni, 45, who risked finding his way to attend the recent ULMWP Summit here in Port Vila.

The only difference between him and his predecessor is that Mr. Wenda lives in London at the other side of the world while Mr. Tabuni lives with his people in Melanesian West Papua.

Asked to comment after his election, Mr. Tabuni said, “While my task ahead is immense and risky, I am prepared to commit myself towards the positive outcome of the West Papua struggle, with my people of West Papua, the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association. Vanuatu Christian Council, the Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs and the Government of Vanuatu and the people of Vanuatu are all behind me”.

Mr. Tabuni said there won’t be any difference since all ULMWP Leaders speak with one voice for the liberation of West Papua to realise the dream of their people, in line with the road map and spirit of the Summit.

Asked if there is going to be any difference in his leadership since he lives with his people, he replied that while their diplomats continue to handle their diplomatic tasks abroad, he will focus on his job on the ground backed by his people. “We will all work together in ULMWP for the benefit of our people in West Papua,” Mr. Tabuni said.

“Our mandate is supported by the three political parties in West Papua and the people of West Papua.

“In fact my election is a confirmation that I am taking the leadership back to my people in West Papua, who are longing to fly their own flag in their God-given country, free of fear on their Independence Day.”

Asked of any risk involved in his leadership, Mr. Tabuni said if it is to do with his mandate then it is a risk that he is prepared to take.

The Interim President appeals to the Government of Vanuatu, chiefs, churches and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), media and people to stand united for West Papua freedom.

news@dailypost.vu

September 7, 2023 0 comment

Featured Politics

Indonesia responds after claim official attempted to bribe RNZ Pacific journalist

by admin September 6, 2023

written by admin

Melanesian Spearhead Group flags Photo: RNZ Pacific / Kelvin Anthony

A Radio New Zealand journalist says an Indonesian government official attempted to bribe and intimidate him at the recent 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders’ meeting in Port Vila.

The Indonesian government has responded on Monday saying it will “surely look” into the claims.

RNZ journalist Kelvin Anthony was in Port Vila to cover the MSG Leaders’ Summit two weeks ago when he was offered “a gift” after an exclusive interview with Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, Dr Siswo Pramono.

The alleged bribe was offered between 1pm-1.10pm on Wednesday, 23 August in the carpark of the Holiday Inn Resort in Port Vila by Indonesian government representative Ardi Nuswantoro, Anthony said.

“I was offered an exclusive interview with the Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia at the MSG meeting after being told earlier in the week by Ardi Nuswantoro that his government did not like what RNZ had published on West Papua and that it was not balanced,” he said.

“I advised the delegate that RNZ makes every effort to be balanced and fair and we want to get Indonesia’s side too, but we need the chance to speak on the record.”

After communicating face-to-face and online via WhatsApp – texts and call records seen by RNZ – Nuswantoro asked Anthony to visit the Holiday Inn Resort at 12pm for the interview on Wednesday, 23 August.

“I interviewed Dr Pramono covering a broad set of questions including human rights issues in West Papua, the MSG meeting, and Jakarta’s intentions in the Pacific, which lasted over 40 minutes,” Anthony said.

“I thought I had an exclusive interview that went well for a strong story out of the meeting that touched sensitive but pertinent issues involving Indonesia, the West Papua issue, and the Pacific.”

Anthony said he was escorted out of the reception area at the end of the interview and accompanied by at least three Indonesian officials.

He said Nuswantoro, who he was liaising with to set up the interview, “asked me several times if I had a car and how I was going to get back”.

“I told them that my colleague from a local media who was with me was driving me back to town. As we walked to the car park, the same official continued to walk with me and just as we were about to approach the car, he said, ‘The Indonesian delegation would like to offer you token of appreciation’.”

“I asked him, ‘What’s that?’ He replied, ‘A small gift’.

“I asked him again, ‘But what is it?’ And he replied: ‘Money’.

“At that point I was shell-shocked because I had never experienced something like that in my career.

“I declined to accept the money and told him, ‘I cannot take money because it compromises the story and my credibility and integrity as a journalist’.”

Anthony said the Indonesian official looked visibly withdrawn at the rejection and apologised for offering money.

Due to the incident RNZ chose at the time not to air the interview with Dr Pramono.

RNZ put the claims of bribery and intimidation to the Indonesian government.

In an email response, Jakarta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asia Pacific and African Affairs director general Abdul Kadir Jailani neither confirmed nor denied the claims.

“Bribery has never been our policy nor approach to journalists,” Jailani said.

“We will surely look into it,” he said.

Source: RNZ

September 6, 2023 0 comment

Featured Vanuatu West Papua

Benny Wenda stands down as head of Papua liberation group

by admin September 6, 2023

written by admin

Benny Wenda Photo: bennywenda.org

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has declared it will now base itself in the region after years of partial exile.

At a conference in Port Vila late last month – coinciding with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit – UK-based Benny Wenda stood down as president.

Menase Tabuni is now president.

More than 50 representatives from West Papua and all over the world attended the summit in Vanuatu. It was only the second summit since ULMWP was formed in 2014.

The movement has an office in Vanuatu, a representative to the EU and some senior officials based in West Papua.

Tabuni will now lead the ULMWP from within West Papua, thereby, it said, maintaining its presence and solidarity with the Papuan people on the ground.

“I am honoured to be appointed as the new ULMWP President and I will do everything I can to continue our legitimate struggle for independence, Tabuni told Jubi TV.

“We must do this from within West Papua as well as campaigning in the international community.

“I will remain in Papua with the people while continuing to fight for human rights and my own determination.”

Octovianus Mote is the new Vice President, Markus Haluk its Secretary, Benny Wenda for Foreign Affairs, Buchtar Tabuni is Chair of the Legislative Council and Apollos Sroyer as Chair of the Judicial Council.

The ULMWP is the umbrella organisation representing the main pro-independence organisations in West Papua, including the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), the Federal Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) and the West Papua National Parliament (PNWP).

“ULMWP also wants to clarify that there is no ‘Interim Government’ and ULMWP is a representative body for all Papuans,” Tabuni said.

Markus Haluk said the movement welcomed the decision of the MSG leaders to encourage Indonesia to allow the visit of the UN Human Rights Commissioner to West Papua, together with the Pacific Delegation.

The ULMWP, he said, continues to demand access for international media to be able to visit West Papua and report freely.

“Indonesia cannot call itself a democratic country if Indonesia continues to hide its largest province from the world,” Tabuni said.

ULMWP also expressed its “deepest gratitude” to the Vanuatu government for hosting the MSG Summit and the ULMWP group, and also to the people of Vanuatu for their continued support.

At the MSG meeting in Port Vila, the leaders of five Melanesian countries and territories avoided a definitive update on the status of the ULMWP’s application for full membership.

Source: RNZ

September 6, 2023 0 comment

Vanuatu

Kilman Leads New Gov’t

by admin September 5, 2023

written by admin

The national Parliament of Vanuatu elected the Member of Parliament (MP) for Malekula Constituency and the President of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Sato Kilman, as the country’s new Prime Minister (PM) last night, following a month of political crisis.

Mr. Kilman secured 27 votes in his favor, while the outgoing PM, Ishmael Kalsakau, received 23 votes. This decision came as a significant development in the midst of Vanuatu’s political turmoil.

Vanuatu’s Parliament comprises 52 seats, but the absence of the President of the National United Party (NUP), Bruno Leingkone, who is in Korea for medical treatment, and one vacant seat in the Malekula constituency, reduced the effective count to 50 MPs present during the session, including the Speaker, Seoule Simeon. However, following the upcoming by-elections in Malekula this week on Thursday, the absolute majority of MPs will be 27, which Mr. Kilman was able to secure.

Mr. Kilman is no stranger to the position of Vanuatu’s PM. He was previously elected PM on December 2010, November 2012 and June 2015. Additionally, Mr. Kilman has held various ministerial portfolios, including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Leader of the Opposition.

His most recent position before becoming the new PM was Deputy PM and Minister of Lands, from which he was terminated by Mr. Kalsakau.

Notably, Mr. Kilman’s PPP was a part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Aquana camp, which ultimately led to Mr. Kalsakau’s election as the new PM on November 4, 2022, following the snap election triggered by the dissolution of parliament by the then PM, Loughman, at the request of the Council of Ministers (COM).

In a media conference at the Parliament House just hours before his election yesterday, Mr. Kilman expressed his commitment to establishing a stable government that addresses the needs of the entire nation.

He pledged, “I can assure you that the new government will try its best to ensure that we reflect a government that will look after the whole country.

“As the new PM, I can assure everyone that I will do my very best to communicate with other political leaders to bring an end to instability in Vanuatu.”

Following his appointment as PM, Mr. Kilman announced his cabinet, which included notable figures such as Bob Loughman as Deputy PM and Minister of Lands, Johnny Koanapo as Finance Minister, James Bule as Minister of Justice, and John Still Tari Qetu as Minister of Sports. Other key appointments included Samuel Kalpoilep as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry, and Biosecurity, Jay Ngwele as Public Utilities Minister, Samsen Samson as Minister of Trade, Ulrich Sumptoh as Minister of Climate Change, Anthony Iauko as Minister of Internal Affairs, Silas Bule as Minister of Education, Joshua Pikioune as Minister of Health, and Marc Ati returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the Opposition’s press conference before the parliamentary session, the former Leader of the Opposition, MP Loughman, noted that Mr. Kilman’s extensive experience in the role of PM made him their preferred candidate for the position.