Diplomats concerned

Headlines

Vanuatu

Government stops MB** deductions THE Vanuatu government has stopped the automatic fortnightly deduction of subscriptions from teachers salaries to their teaches union. The salary section of the department of finance was directed by the government to stop the deductions, beginning April.

Vanuatu Teachers Union president Obed Massing described the government’s decision as another deliberate move to undermine the union. He said the deductions were legal because they were authorised by the members and he could not see any reason for the government’s action. Massing said he has written to the ministry of education urging it to re-consider the decision. The VTU has 713 financial members. In February members joined a strike called by the Vanuatu Trade Union Congress in support of striking civil servants demanding a 16 per cent pay rise. A hundred and seventy-nine teachers were suspended for taking part in the strike.

Ministers expelled

from party

THREE ministers in the Vanuatu government have been expelled by their political party.

The annual congress of the National United Party approved the expulsion of three breakaway MPs and their political secretaries. The three are the deputy prime minister, Sethy Regenvanu; health minister, Doctor Edward Tambisari and communications minister, Cecil Sinka.

They have continued to defy the NUP leadership, led by former prime minister, Fr Walter Lini, by remaining in coalition with the Union of Moderate Parties-led government.

The fourth NUP People’s Congress also decided not to recognise the agreement by Regenvanu and his faction and Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman forming the basis of the present coalition government.

Korman makes stand on nuclear issues VANUATU’S prime minister Maxime Carlot Korman says his country has taken in independent stand on nuclear issues, and has advised both the United States and France of its position.

Carlot Korman made the statement after the French president, Francois Mitterand, announceed France would halt its nuclear testing programme at Murorua Atoll in French Polynesia. The prime minister says Vanuatu is committed to a clean environment and is totally against nuclear testing. 9|e9|e9|e9|ca|c9ic9|c9fe9|ca|c9|e9|e

Diplomats concerned

about logging

DIPLOMATS of European Union countries based in Vanuatu have called on the prime minister, Maxime Carlot Korman, to express their concern on expanding logging operations in his country, particularly on timber-rich Erromango Island.

The call has come from the French ambassador, Jean Mazeo, who is also president of European Union member countries in Vanuatu; acting British high commissioner, David Miller; and the resident representative of the European Union in Vanuatu, Hangjorg von Bieler. They reminded Carlot Korman of their financial commitments to the country’s reafforestation projects as well as Vanuatu’s own outstanding reputation as a firm defender of the environment and sustainable development both in the region and internationally.