Nine Pacific countries ran Operation Rai Balang 2017 which co-ordinated out of the Forum Fisheries Agency surveillance centre in Solomon Islands.

Operation Rai Balang 2017 covered 14.7 million square km and saw a total of 918 detections of fisheries vessels, 93 aircraft sightings, and 50 boardings 30 of them at sea.

Of the seven arrests five recorded in Vanuatu were long liners flagged to China with minor infringements.

In FSM, a purse seiner flagged to China allegedly had its vessel monitoring system turned off at the time of its inspection.

And in Solomon Islands, a Taiwanese flagged long-liner is facing illegal shark fishing fines because it was allegedly using fishing gear commonly seen in shark capture and finning offences.

The deputy director general of the FFA Wes Norris said each of the seven cases will now be pursued by the relevant FFA members.

He said however they are resolved, Pacific nations were ensuring that those fishing in their waters are complying with the rules, or facing the consequences.

Working with the nine nations, the aerial and maritime defence assets of Australia, New Zealand, France and the US helped to ensure a record and broader co-ordination of activities, which again as in 2016 featured Vietnamese so-called "blue boats".

On 12 March, three Vietnamese so-called "blue boats" were chased out of the Papua New Guinea EEZ by HMPNGS MORESBY.

Four days later, there were two separate sightings-one group less than 100nm South West of Port Moresby; and another group in the vicinity of Lyra Reef, 130 nautical miles North East of Rabaul.

"The Vietnamese blue boats have been earmarked in recent operations as an issue of rising concern, particularly for FSM, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Australia," said FFA Deputy Director General Wez Norris.

"They are basically pirates of the reef systems they pillage and that makes them a rising concern to food and environmental security, as well as posing numerous other law enforcement risks. Our Fisheries ministers are keen to see some strategic, effective Pacific responses which can put a stop to this criminal activity," Mr Norris said.

Participating Rai Balang nations in 2017 Fiji, FSM, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, PNG, RMI, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu initially deployed nine Pacific Patrol boats providing a total of 69 days at sea.

The patrol boats and Maritime HQ's across the operation were supported by five QUAD (Australia, France, NZ and US) aircraft which flew 20 missions totaling 119 hours.

The French also provided a patrol boat which operated in the waters between Vanuatu and Fiji. "As always, the direct support from the Quads and other partners such as the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to the operation has contributed heavily to its success".

Photo: Supplied/ FFA The Operation Rai Balang 2017 team. 

Photo Below: AFP A Vietnamese "blue boat". 

The Government of Vanuatu last week announced a South Korean funded loan and grant package to enhance shipping and ship maintenance infrastructure in Vanuatu which includes the funding of a new 1000 tonne slipway.

Mr Giltrap states that he has been evaluating the direction of his business for some time now and analysis of the market he has been servicing shows it is not worth pursuing any more. The new slipway was also a contributing factor “, initially our investment path was stifled because we had the government calling for a competing slipway so we retarded our development taking a ‘wait and see approach”.

“The current client base is a disaster, they can’t manage their maintenance budgets, they can’t even arrive at the slipway on time, they are of insufficient net worth to raise capital from the banks, really who would want them?”

Responding to accusations that his prices are too high, Mr Giltrap states that he agrees. With a major cost component of out of water ship repair being paint, he cites the current duty rate of paint imported into Vanuatu at 30% as being a major factor in his business struggling to be competitive at a regional level. Vessels currently travelling to Fiji for out of water maintenance are able to have duty and VAT refunded on all paint and materials. This, combined with access to duty free fuel upon departure and lower labour rates, has made Fiji an attractive option for Vanuatu ship operators.

Mr Giltrap also levels some blame at some government departments’ inaction as a factor in his decision. “We have owned the Slipway for 3 years and in this time we have had no visits from Ports and Harbours, MIPU or VIPA. We are continually reading reports of how the government criticises our operation and how Government wants to build its own facility.”

Photo supplied Peter Wederell

Tony Wright, a former youth and sports minister, is in Port Vila Hospital with a kidney condition, but he says he needs treatment in New Caledonia.

Mr Wright, who was jailed in 2015, told the Daily Post he needed medical treatment in New Caledonia, as he needed a dialysis service that wasn't available in Vanuatu.

He said his applications for bail on compassionate grounds included medical reports from more than one doctor, but they had been turned down on each occasion.

The parole board said Mr Wright did not complete a full submission to go with the medical reports, so his applications had not be considered.

Three other jailed former MPs, John Amos, Paul Telukluk and Silas Yatan, were reported to have also applied for compassionate release.

Meanwhile, the Daily Post said two others, Steven Kalsakau and Serge Vohor, would be eligible for parole from next month.

Minister blong Lands na Water Resources, Ralph Regenvanu ibin mekim despla toktok blong makim World Water Day aste long Port Vila.

Vanuatu wankaen olsem ol narapla Island kantri long Pacific isave gat wari long wara long ol gutpla taem na tu long ol taem blong drought.

Hed tok blong despla United Nations World Water Day em 'waste water' oa pipia wara na  Minister blong  Lands na  Water Resources, Ralph Regenvanu itok, ol pipal nau imas lukluk long ol gutpla wei long noken toromoi nating wara, tasol oli mas lukautim long planim ol samting long gaden.

Minista Regenvanu ibin go pas long ol bung long Port Vila blong makim despla World Water Day na emi tok wara emi bikpla samting long laif blong ol pipal.

Long saed blong ol wok blong bringim wara igo long ol communiti direkta blong Water Resources Erickson Sammy, itok dipatman blong en iwok long mekim planti wok long kamapim gut qualiti blong wara long kantri.

Coach blong olketa Ifira Blackbird hem former Solomon Islands nasinol an intenational player, Batram Suri hu hem getem 4 fala pleia blong Solomon tu fo plei long klab.

Suri hem se olketa Solomon Islands pleia ia i plei long samfala key posisin and hem bae bringim nara tufala Solomon pleia moa fo helpem tim.

Hem se aim blong klab hem fo winim league den go long Top Four PLayoff an den winim moa an den go representim Vanuatu long OFC Champions League long 2018.

“Thank you to the Government and the MP’s for passing the Right To Information Law,” expressed the Chief of Bethel community,”a lot has been said by politicians on what they plan to do, but so little has been done. This law will help know of their progress.”

At every village that the TIV Team visited there was a round of applause before further information on the implementation phases of the RTI Law was delivered to them.

“This is different from other awarenesses” explains TIV Advocacy Officer Douglas Tamara.”They applaud our visit because they took part in the consultation process of the RTI Bill before it became law. They supported the RTI Bill, and they said that their MP’S must support the RTI Bill because that is what their people want. And now that the RTI Bill has moved to become Right To Information Law they are very grateful for having been involved in the law making process.”

Several thousand ni-Vanuatus go to New Zealand each year as part of the Recognised Seasonal Employer programme.

Rao Abel Yalu told the Daily Post that he had shown he could earn a significant income each week by selling at the Port Vila market.

He says his sons were convinced and have agreed to stay and help him plant more yams on the farm.

Mr Yalu says he planted his yams early last year to start harvesting them in January instead of May to avoid competition from other farmers. 

He is Frederick John Gilu, formerly the Director of the Policy Unit.

Gilu replaces Viran Molisa Trief, who resigned at the end of last year.

A senior officer in the State Law, Florence William was Acting Solicitor General until Gilu took office Thursday.

Vanuatu Daily Post reports Gilu’s appointment was made on the recommendation of a judicial panel. Gilu started out as a state counsel before becoming head of the Policy Unit.

The Solicitor General’s Office will supervise and conduct government litigation in court. It plays a vital role in keeping the court informed.

Gilu is responsible to represent the Attorney General in his (Attorney General) absence.

The position of Solicitor General is one of the highest under Vanuatu’s Justice Department.

Four of Vanuatu's six provinces - Malampa, Penama, Shefa and Tafea - went to the polls to vote for their provincial councils on Thursday.

The Daily Post reports that votes were still being tallied, but overall voter turnout was low at polling stations around the provinces.

In the southern Tafea province, the chief registrar, David Tovurvur, said only about 50 percent of registered voters showed up to polling stations.

Counting of votes has been taking place since voters went to the polls last Thursday in the provinces of Malampa, Penama, Shefa and Tafea.

The Reunification of Movements for Change (RMC) is reported to unofficially have secured the most seats followed by the Vanua’aku Party (VP).

Leaders Party Vanuatu (LPV) and Graon and Justice Party (GJP) are reported to be tied in third place.

Unofficial results indicate RMC have picked 14 seats, VP 12 seats, and LPV and GJP 10 seats each.

The provincial elections saw a total of 11 women candidates vying for seats in Tafea, Shefa and Penama provinces.

There is no female candidate contesting in Malampa Province.

Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Mrs Salwai cast their votes at Melsisi polling station during Penama provincial elections.

Melsisi polling station is one the biggest polling stations in Pentecost Constituency with over 500 registered voters.

Mr Salwai and his family are registered to vote in Pentecost constituency during general and provincial elections.

Voting though was hampered by low turn out of voters in the four provinces.

This comes amid signs of a change in the way a long-running boundary dispute between Vanuatu and New Caledonia is negotiated.

RNZ reports Vanuatu's government is reviewing the new French proposal on boundary negotiations.

However it remained tight-lipped about whether this advanced protracted negotiations over the tiny islets of Matthew and Hunter.

Both Vanuatu and France lay claim to the remote volcanic islands which lie to Vanuatu's south, and the east of the French territory of New Caledonia.

In 1976, prior to the former New Hebrides gaining independence as Vanuatu, France annexed Matthew and Hunter islands to New Caledonia, rather than maintaining them as part of the former colony it ruled jointly with Britain.

Vanuatu's government ignored this claim of French sovereignty, claiming its own sovereignty over the islets since day one.

Attempts over the years by Vanuatu to plant its flag on the islets were blocked by France whose powerful navy patrols the area.

Over the years France maintained an unmanned weather station on Matthew.

Vanuatu still argues that cartographically, geographically and culturally, the islets are part of its archipelago.

The islets themselves would not seem to represent much in the form of resources.

However, securing rights to the territorial waters around them could offer significant potential wealth in marine resources, rare earth minerals and oil deposits.

Signs of movement

The dispute has rarely looked close to being resolved.

But Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Bruno Leingkon was invited to Paris in January to discuss a way forward for the dispute.

Prime Minister Charlot Salwai was also in Europe that month for a series of talks.

While no official statement emerged regarding Matthew and Hunter, Vanuatu government sources say negotiations will now no longer be between Port Vila and the French High Commission in New Caledonia.

It's understood that Vanuatu will instead negotiate with France's High Commissioner in Port Vila.

Taking negotiations away from the orbit of Noumea could simplify proceedings, at least for France.

New Caledonia's FLNKS Movement which represents the territory's indigenous Kanaks had, in recent years, waded into the debate by agreeing the islands belong to Vanuatu.

Like Port Vila, the FLNKS considers Matthew and Hunter as part of Vanuatu's Tafea Province - under traditional relationships, Kanaks have links to the islands.

Endorsement by the FLNKS however has no legal impact in this dispute.

France has taken the matter to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in New York.

There does seem to be somewhat of an uneven playing field in this dispute - France, with its powerful economy and global clout, up against a small, cash-strapped Pacific Island country.

A former Vanuatu prime minister, Moana Carcasses, suggested in 2010 that the two uninhabited islands could become a condominium shared by Vanuatu and France.

His suggestion sparked outrage at the time among Vanuatu's political establishment whose stand on the dispute has essentially remained unchanged since independence.

Carcasses is in jail now for corruption-related charges. However his basic suggestion - that Vanuatu may have to show flexibility to reach resolution to this dispute - could still offer a possible circuit-breaker.

Photo: Hunter Island

This is thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed 21 March with Digicel Vanuatu Ltd, which Telecom Vanuatu Limited (TVL) will sign next week.  

Health Information Systems (HIS) are used to collect critical information about the illnesses being treated by health workers from around the country. In 2014, the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization, built VanPHIS2, which utilizes an open-source information system with visualization features including GIS, charts, and pivot tables, and is a system used in more than 40 countries around the world. 

At present, health centres, dispensaries, and aid posts send their paper forms over mountains, through the bush, and on boats to reach the provincial offices, where it is entered through the VanPHIS2 web app utilizing the Government Broadband Network, a high speed internet connection provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).  This data is then able to be reviewed by the national HIS office in Port Vila. 

Yet, this information can be lost on the way from clinics to the provincial centres.  Through advice solicited from OGCIO’s technical experts and from the mobile network providers, came the idea of “zero rating” VanPHIS2. Zero rating means that the web app will be available through mobile phones or tablets with sim cards without any data charges to the consumer. Usually this service would then be billed to the Ministry of Health or another party; however, both TVL and Digicel have agreed to provide this service for free. Through TVL, this will be accomplished by zero rating across the network.  For Digicel, a list of health workers’ Digicel numbers will be added to a “White List” that allows zero rated access to the web app.

TVL’s CEO mentioned that they have been working to provide easy access to telecommunication services to the whole population of Vanuatu and said, “When the Ministry of Health approached TVL with respect to the zero–rating of their web app, TVL immediately provided their acceptance to this project, free of charge in line with its commitment to the people of Vanuatu.”

Yaser Maher, Digicel Vanuatu CEO, stated “Digicel is committed to encouraging access to basic health services in rural and remote communities. We did this through the provision of Mobile Health Clinics (MHCs) in Papua New Guinea and we are now supporting Vanuatu by giving health workers free access to the Ministry of Health web app. We hope that the free access of the Vanuatu Public Health Information System will allow the national Health Information System to collect more data from distant sites and the health workers to be up-to-date with current health issues. Health care is a challenge in Vanuatu and Digicel is proudly contributing to the great efforts done by the Ministry of Health.”​

When health workers have the ability to send this information via mobile device through Digicel and TVL networks, instead of only sending paper forms, the MoH hopes it will result in more accurate and timely reporting, increase visibility of diseases throughout the country, and lead to better informed decision making. George Taleo, Director General of Health explained further, “the Ministry of Health is grateful for the opportunity that both telecommunication companies have agreed to zero-rate the Health Informationweb app. This will assist in the timely reporting of the HIS report especially in the most rural health facilities in Vanuatu. This is a milestone within the Ministry of Health and I believe we can continue with the working relationship in the future.”

This zero rating and next phase of VanPHIS2 rollout is focused on pushing data entry down to the individual facility, so health workers can utilize the web-based tools to have a greater understanding of the health needs and issues affecting the population directly under their care.   

Rachel Takoa, National HIS Manager for the MoH stated, “TVL and Digicel zero-rating the HIS web app (VanPHIS2 database) is a major achievement that the unit will benefit a lot from. One of our major goals is to have timely reporting and this tool will assist in achieving this goal. A lot of health facilities are in the rural part of Vanuatu. They’ll be the ones using this tool, since transporting the hard-copy of the electronic HIS form is an issue for most of them currently. The unit is very happy that TVL and Digicel have taken steps to assist with zero-rating the web app. And we know the health workers will be happy too once they start looking at their own reports through a web browser.”

Danjeck Tari, MoH’s National ICT Manager, explained the technical side of the project and said "Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools that are low-bandwidth are a great way to include health workers all over Vanuatu.  VanPHIS2 even loads quickly on 2G networks and it requires very little mobile data to submit a form or look at graphs through the internet.  Zero rating the web app to make it free eliminates one of the many barriers health workers face. We hope to find even more ways to help health workers everywhere have equal access to the ICT tools they need."

While the public can view the log in page of VanPHIS2 (accessible at https://vu.dhis2.net/dhis), at this time the tool is only for health staff who have been granted access by the HIS department.  In the future, the Ministry of Health’s goal is to also provide aggregate data and health trends directly to the public.

 Gerard Metsan, the Government Chief Information Officer, is committed to helping ministries utilize ICTs and said, “The zero rating of VanPHIS2 is a great way to utilize existing mobile networks, which already reach a majority of the population.  Very soon, even more places in Vanuatu will have 3G service and more towers are being built due to the government’s Universal Access Policy.  Vanuatu has a very bright future indeed and OGCIO is committed to increasing the creation and utilization of ICTs to improve the reach of government services to citizens.”

TVL and Digicel both have other initiatives offering zero rated services, which are internet based and  free to consumers. Thus Digicel customers can enjoy unlimited free access to Wikipedia and Loop News with all the news from Vanuatu and the Pacific. In 2017, Digicel also worked with USP to provide unlimited free access to USP e-learning websites and Facebook to the USP students and staff.  Last year TVL launched a new service called ‘’Free Basics by Facebook’’ that provides completely free access to TVL customers to use basic internet services which include health, education, finance, communication, new and information services. More information on this can be viewed of the website of TVL: http://www.tvl.vu/en/freebasicsbyfacebook/.  

Photo by Alexis Cullen

Erakor captain helped the Golden Star lead in 60 minutes after he headed in a great goal from a corner kick.

But Tupuji Imere had different ideas in the last few minutes and saw substitute Jojo Kalmaire level in style five minutes before time as the crowd went wild.

The results see Tupuji Imere now second on the ladder with 14 points, two behind leader Ifira Black Bird and Erakor Golden Star FC now have 10 points on the ladder, 6 points behind ifira Black Bird.

Erakor still have three matches to play in the first leg and Ifira Black Bird have one match in the first leg.

Latest Standing after Round 7

1. Ifira Black Bird 16 ( 6 matches)
2. Tupuji Imere 14 ( 7 matches)
3. Amicale FC 11 ( 7 matches)
4. Erakor Golden Star 10 ( 4 matches)
5. Siaraga 6 ( 7 matches)
6. Tafea 6 ( 6 matches)
7. Mauwia 5 ( 6 matches)
8. Mauriki 0 ( 7 matches)

President Lonsdale’s statement was made after local media reported that the parole requests of incarcerated political leaders have been submitted to the Parole Board for consideration.

“I am urging the Parole Board to do a thorough assessment of all detainees in Port Vila and in Luganville in order to ensure that all the inmates who meet the parole requirements must have their requests processed and submitted to the Parole Board for consideration.

“The Board has a duty to ensure that every single detainee who has already served half of his (or her) sentence and who has obtained a report of good conduct from the Correctional Centre is given the opportunity to have his (or her) parole request submitted to the Parole Board,” President Lonsdale said.

“There’s no second class ni-Vanuatu citizen and everyone should be treated equal in the eyes of the law.

“When it comes to parole requests, we don’t want our citizens to accuse the authorities of leniency and favouritism towards political leaders over ordinary detainees.

“Whether you’re rich or poor, whether you’re a leader, a minister, a businessman or a simple citizen, everyone has to be treated the same.

“No one is above the law. Therefore I urge the Parole Board to do make sure that at its next meeting, not only the requests of the political leaders will be processed for consideration but also the applications of all the detainees who currently meet the parole criteria as I mentioned earlier.

“The Board in question has to do its job fairly,” the Head of State concluded.

Vanuatu Daily Post reports the Parole board, being an independent body, consists of members from the Judicial Service, Correctional Department, Women’s Affairs and Chiefs.

According to media reports, the parole requests of two former Members of Parliament, namely the former MP for Santo, Serge Vohor and ex-Efate MP, Steven Kalsakau have already been submitted to the Parole Board for consideration.

The Parole Board is expected to meet in the coming weeks to consider their applications.

On the other hand, the authorities have recently rejected applications for parole submitted by several former MP detainees who had their sentences increased after they were found guilty by the Supreme Court of conspiracy against the state in an additional case.

Photo: Vanuatu President Baldwin Lonsdale 

After a team introduction, Champions Program coordinator, Wilfred Koran, made a presentation to the Heads of Schools and their Zone Curriculum Advisor on the content of the Champions Program and what the schools will expect if they are being visited by NASI.

During his presentation, Mr. Koran informed teachers that as part of the program and its legacy in schools, teaching materials on environment, custom & culture, health & sports will be produced to assist teachers with their available teaching resources.

At the end of the session Zone Curriculum Advisor, Jeffrey Kalo, thanked the team for their visit.  “This visit is worthwhile as it provides us with more information and update information on the Pacific Mini Games that will be hosted in Port Vila later this year,” Mr Kalo said.

“As Officer in-charge of principals and on behalf of the teachers, I wish to thank the team for their time. We will look forward to organizing our students to meet the Mascot team and especially with NASI when the team arrives to our schools to give them more information on this historic event.”

The team later met with the children and villagers of Lelepa Island in the village community hall, where the children learned and took part in an environmental chorus “Lukaotem gud envaeromen, no sakem toti olbaot, putum toti lo raet ples” as they were being entertained by NASI.

The message highlighted in the chorus is one of the main themes of the Champions’ Program.

Van2017 Goodwill Ambassador, Vanessa Quai, was also part of the team during this visit.  Miss Quai had the opportunity to share her testimony with the children of Lelepa on how they can also become Champions when they grow up one day.

“As an international artist, I started my career in singing when I was six years old. You can live your dream and make your dream come true if you believe in yourself. Work hard and be faithful in every little thing you do or, in what you are ask to do; like brushing your teeth every day, eating less of sweets to keep your teeth healthy, putting the rubbish in its right place.  Because these little habitual practices that you do each day will help you to build up your character to be the person who you will want to become one day.  One other important thing you must always remember is to put God first in everything you do because it is through Him that you will be a Champion,” stated Miss Quai.

Moving on from meeting the children of Lelepa, Nasi visited the UNESCO World Heritage site.  Van2017 acknowledges the significance of custom preservation and heritage, particularly in regards to cultural sites that have played a key role in shaping Efate’s cultural history. In recognition of the People of Lelepa Island being the keepers of Eretoka (also known as Hat Island) as a World Heritage site, Nasi and team took this opportunity to visit the renowned Chief Roimata cave. Van2017’s visit to the caves was a sign of respect for the integral cultural significance that Chief Roimata played in maintaining peace and harmony amongst the warring clans of Efate.

The Champions Program has departed to Efate’s Shepherd Islands schools as it aims to expand to all other reachable schools throughout the other five Provinces in the country.

Van2017 acknowledges the support and partnership of the Ministry of Education and Training throughout the Champions’ Program.

You can follow Nasi as he continues his journey on Van2017 Facebook page – Vanuatu2017 or Vanuatu2017Nasiviru    or on the Van2017 website    www.van2017.com

Silas Aru, 53, picked fruit at farms across Queensland as part of an Australian federal government low skilled Seasonal Worker Program, The Brisbane Times reported.

The father-of-six, who described the work as 'slavery', said he was paid less than A$150 in total, and some days ate no food. 

'I have never before experienced working a full day without even a cup of tea,' Mr Aru told investigators from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

But Mr Aru was more fortunate than some of his workmates who didn't receive any money for their time working in Australia.

Mr Aru and 21 others were recruited from Vanuatu in May 2014 under an Australian program to bring seasonal workers from Pacific Islands.

The program aims to help workers from struggling Pacific Islands nations find employment and fill low-skilled labour gaps in Australia's horticulture industry.

Here the food supplied was 'never enough and did not last long,' the Federal Court found.

In August the workers were moved to the Bundaberg region.

Mr Aru stayed in a youth hostel and some days only ate a piece of bread.

When questioned about the conditions, the Queensland businessman threatened to deport the workers.

In the words of Justice Michael Jarrett, the workers were 'rescued' in September.

Of the 22 men, 13 did not receive any money. The others were paid between A$50 and A$150 each by some of the farmers.

The Queensland businessman has been ordered to pay the men almost A$80,000 in owed wages. He was also issued A$227,000 fine.

The Fair Work Ombudman's three-year Harvest Trail Inquiry is expected to conclude later this year. 

Tournament Manager Thomas Kalola has invited the top teams from Honiara, Savo and Russell, Makira, Temotu and Malaita to participate in the annual competition, with some teams featuring former, current and prospective Solomon Islands national futsal team players.

“This competition will feature 16 teams, most of the teams are champions in various leagues organised in Honiara as well as in our provinces,” he said.

“A team from Vanuatu will also come and compete in this competition.”

Vanuatu hosted the inaugural competition in 2014 and again in 2015 before the competition was brought over to Solomon Islands for the first time in 2016.

With futsal growing more popular across the region, particularly in Melanesian countries, Kalola is considering different nations to host the 2018 edition.

“Our next host country is yet to be confirmed, but it’s between Vanuatu and New Caledonia,’’ he said.

The winner of this year’s challenge will automatically qualify to compete in the Futsal Wantok Challenge 2018, booking their tickets to the yet-to-be-decided host nation....

Mr Salwai made the comment when he received a high level delegation of the independent movement of the French territory of New Caledonia, the FLNKS led by their spokesperson, Victor Tutugoro in his office today.

He said Vanuatu will continue to raise the issue of independence of Kanaky in regional and international organisations.

Mr Salwai said that the issue of independence of Kanaks is currently absent within their Melanesian organisation of Melanesian Spearhead Group but it is only with the leaders and not their people.

He said the issue of the independence of Melanesian people is rooted in the minds of the people of Melanesia.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the leaders of the FLNKS for their ground works towards then self-determination of the Kanaks.

Mr Tutugoro and the members of his delegation also briefed Mr Salwai on the current political situation in Kanaky.

The FLNKS delegation also met with Deputy Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, former Prime Minister, Barak Sope, former president of the Republic of Vanuatu, Kalkot Mataskelekele and one of the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Pastor John Sethy Regenvanu.

They will also meet with Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and other leaders.

The purpose of their visit is to gather information on how Vanuatu achieved its independence from Britain and France in 1980.

Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, United Kingdom, Germany and United States of America can also now apply for appropriate dual citizenship options.

Others eligible for dual citizenship and allowed to apply include investors, by marriage, long-term resident, sportsperson and by descent.

Post Courier reports Pato made the announcement in Port Moresby flanked by the chairman of the Citizenship Advisory Council Solan Mirisim and PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority acting chief migration officer Solomon Kantha.

“Following my statement made in February 2017 on implementation of Dual Citizenship, I am pleased to announce that all legal and administrative requirements are now in order for the implementation of dual citizenship,” he said.

“This is a historic moment for PNG as PNG will for the first time enable foreigners to hold dual citizenship with PNG and PNG citizens to hold dual citizenship with another country.

PNG is part of the globalised world and after 41 years there are many reasons why we must be on par with the changes taking place in the world,” Pato said.

“Many citizens have either married, lived or are working abroad and want to maintain their connection with the country.

“Similarly, foreigners who are married to Papua New Guineans and those working, investing and actively contributing to the development of the country want to be part of this country without losing the connection to their country of origin,” he said.

“As mentioned in my last statement, there are two categories of people who can apply for dual citizenship.

“The first category covers people from the eight prescribed countries to apply for dual citizenship with PNG.

"The second category is for PNG citizens opting to hold citizenship of another prescribed country while still maintain their PNG citizenship,” Pato said.

Photo file by Papua New Guinea today: Port Moresby  

The concern has been sparked by the case of a Ni-Vanuatu man who was forced to take his employer to court after he was paid just AUD$150 for six months work.

Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, condemned those who abuse the scheme but pointed out that such cases are very rare.

Vanuatu's Commissioner of Labour, Lionel Kaluat, says the case is a matter of public record now, and like the minister, he believes the level of exploitation was unusual.

But he told Pacific Beat it's clear that there needs to be more education for would-be seasonal workers to avoid them from being conned by unscrupulous agents.

Photo file Vanuatu Commissioner of Labout Lionel Kaluat