Korman sidesteps
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Vanuatu
political crisis
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman, averted a political crisis in December and had the 1994 budget passed by bringing into his cabinet one of two supporters who liad earlier resigned.
Cecil Sinker, who resigned as leader of government business was sworn in as minister for posts and telecommunica tions, replacing Onnyn. Tahi who re signed on the same day as Sinker. Tahi had resigned saying Korman’s govern ment was dishonest, disloyal and irres ponsible. Both men were members of former prime minister Walter Lini’s
National United Party and belonged to the faction supporting the Korman government.
Sinker in his resignation letter also accused Korman of Lying, saying the prime minister had offered him the post of minister of agriculture and forestry but did not honour it. However, when offered the posts and communications portfolio Sinker accepted it immediately and was sworn in by the chief justice.
The government also survived a no confidence motion when it went undebated. The motion was filed on November 30 and needed seven clear days notice before it could be put to the floor. When parliament passed the budget and adjourned early on Decem ber 6, the motion lapsed.
The government now has a two seat majority in the 46-member parliament.