The opening of the Cooks Barrack on Thursday 19th September 2024, officially Opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia who is also Minister of Defense Hon. Richard Marles and our Prime Minister Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, marks a significant milestone for Vanuatu Mobile force and Vanuatu Police force.
     
    This great milestone reflects the strong bilateral relations between Australia and Vanuatu, underscoring Australia's commitment to supporting regional security and stability in the Pacific. The new facility is expected to boost the training and operational readiness of Vanuatu's Mobile Force, enabling improved response to domestic and regional challenges.
     
    The ceremony included traditional customs ceremony in honoring the land custodians, reflecting the deep cultural heritage of Vanuatu while also emphasizing the collaborative relationship between Australia and Vanuatu in matters of security and community welfare.
     
    Both leaders emphasized collaboration, shared values, and the importance of a secure environment for the prosperity of the Pacific Islands. The Opening ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Matai Seremaiah, Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Andrew Napwat, Minister of Finance Hon. Johnny Koanapo, Minister of Lands Hon. Rick Mahe, Minister of Youth & Sports Hon. Tomker Netvunei, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Xavier Harry Iauko, DG of Prime Minister's Office, DG Internal Affairs, Australian High Commissioner and members of the diplomatic core and families of force members.

    The Prime Minister (PM), Charlot Salwai, announced that the Council of Ministers (COM) in its urgent meeting on Monday 16th September 2024 has approved for the government to settle the teachers’ claims totalling VT4,252, 821,101.

    He wants the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) and its members to understand that while the government cannot address all claims this year due to the budget being already passed, it will still address them in future budgets.

    He urged them to resume duties immediately.

    In its second decision, COM tasked the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MoFEM) and the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to revise the payment plan for the claims and present it to the next COM.

    The teachers’ claims include unpaid severance, housing, child and remote allowances, death in service entitlement, reimbursement of course fees, payment for those performing duties as principals, deputy principals and those performing above their designated grades.

    PM Salwai announced that the COM agreed for the Education Minister to set up a working committee consisting of the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU), Teaching Service Commission (TSC), Department of Finance and MoET within six months to review each case individually and have them verified by the Office of the Attorney General before finalisation.

    He said the COM also agreed for the Teaching Service Commission Act and the Teaching Service Act be reviewed and presented to the next Parliament session, and to pursue immediate reform of the education system.

    The Head of the Government stressed that despite significant annual spending on education and support from development partners, reports indicate that literacy levels remain low compared to other countries.

    “Despite government’s efforts to provide access to education, many children are still not attending schools. The reform is important to identify the causes, such as whether it’s due to distance, not enough schools or lack of teachers,” he said.

    “There is another report indicating that students are still struggling with reading and writing at the secondary level after spending many years at the primary level. The reform will find out the reasons, whether it’s related to the curriculum or the quality of teachers. It is a serious concern when parent spend a lot in their children’s education.

    “Also, the results of last year’s exams were not so good, possibly due to the COVID-19 crisis or teachers not turn attending classes, but these some of the concerns affecting education. The reform will identify our failures and how to address them.”

    PM Salwai said education will remain a government priority, as it develops the country’s human resources.

     

    Source: Daily Post Vanuatu

    Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai concluded a significant visit to New Zealand, enhancing bilateral relations through meetings with key political and community leaders. During discussions with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins, both parties reinforced their commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors, including trade and climate resilience.

    PM Salwai also engaged with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, focusing on agricultural partnerships and sustainable practices. Notably, the Prime Minister met with Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in Blenheim, acknowledging their contributions to New Zealand and Vanuatu economy and fostering goodwill between the two nations.

    Furthermore, his discussions with Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei representatives in Auckland highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and collaboration on Indigenous issues. This visit marks a pivotal step towards strengthening Vanuatu-New Zealand ties and promoting shared prosperity.

    Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai is currently in China as of 7th of July when he arrived, accompanied by Minister of Internal Affairs Johnny Koanapo and Minister of Lands Rick Tchamako Mahe.

    According to Hilaire Bule, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Government, PM Salwai arrived in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on Sunday afternoon to begin his official visit. Upon their arrival, the delegation received a warm welcome at the airport.

    Yesterday, Prime Minister Salwai met with the Vice Governor of Guangdong province, Mr. Wang Xi.

    During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on various areas of development. PM Salwai emphasised that the large delegation from Vanuatu visiting China this week reflects the importance Vanuatu places on its relationship with China and Guangdong province.

    He noted that while China and Vanuatu formally established diplomatic relations in 1982, the relationship began well before then with Chinese Cantonese settlers arriving in Vanuatu before the country’s independence in 1980.

    The PM expressed the gratitude of the people of Vanuatu for the support received from China in the aftermaths of natural disasters.

    He invited Guangdong Province to explore business opportunities in Vanuatu, particularly in rural development and air connectivity. He also extended an invitation to Guangdong province to establish province and city agreements with other provinces and towns in Vanuatu.

    Vice Governor Wang stated that his province is interested in investing in the areas of coffee, fish, and forestry, mentioning that Guangdong is one of the main producers of coffee.

    The Vice Governor said Guangdong organises a tourism event every year and invited Vanuatu to participate. He expressed a desire to promote agricultural exchange with Vanuatu and assured that his province would continue to assist Vanuatu during times of disaster, maintaining this support in the future.

    Yesterday, PM Salwai and his delegation also visited the Canton Opera Exhibition and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition, where they had the opportunity to discover the rich cultural heritage of Guangdong province.

    The province is committed to preserving its customs and traditions, passing them down to younger generations to ensure they hold onto their cultural identity.

    PRO Bule shared that PM Salwai, Mrs. Salwai, Internal Affairs Minister Koanapo, and Lands Minister Mahe had the privilege of dressing in their traditional opera costumes.

    Guangdong province has been a significant contributor to Vanuatu’s early development stages, with the first Chinese Cantonese settlers arriving in Vanuatu before independence. Today, their grandchildren continue to live in Vanuatu and have become citizens, running their own businesses in the country.

    By Daily Post Vanuatu

    The Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have signed the ‘Tirvau’ agreement this morning at the Coral Sea Resort in Honiara.
    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.
    Prime Minister, Hon. Jeremiah Manele said the Agreement is about promoting peaceful relations, facilitating economic activities, and ensuring the effective governance of our borders and cooperate on sectoral and humanitarian issues of mutual concern to the two states.
    The Tirvau Agreement is an extension of the Motalava Treaty between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu signed in October 2016 and concerns the sovereignty Maritime and Seabed Boundaries and Cooperation on relation matters.
    Prime Minister Manele said the presence of Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas at this historic signing ceremony signifies the strength and depth of both countries relations that is based on mutual respect, the wantok spirit, the cultural and historical ties.
    Solomon Islands has a special relationship with Vanuatu’s province of Torba, having gifted land last year to the Government of Solomon Islands and Torba’s sister province of Temotu. Temotu’ Provincial Premier, Hon. Stanley Tehi who was at the signing ceremony has assured that his province will reciprocate the gesture by providing land for the Government of Vanuatu and its sister province of Torba.
    Prime Minister Manele made special mention of his Vanuatu counterpart, Hon. Charlot Salwai who was also Prime Minister in 2016 when the Motalava Treaty was signed with former Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare.
    Elements of the Tirvau Agreement is intergenerational in nature and opens doors for further collaboration, integration and cooperation between the two states.
    Hon. Manele said the agreement cements and binds current relations with a umi tugeda spirit, two wantok countries further formalizing and recognizing the traditional and cultural connections as Melanesians.
    It will also allow for more visibility and transaction between the two countries for stronger connectivity, trading and economic growth.
    With the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Manele called on implementing authorities to be diligent in activating and operationalizing this Agreement on its designated date.
    The name of the Basic Border Agreement is the “Tirvau Agreement”. 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.
     
    By Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade

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