The Vanuatu Issue Nº 459
Independent
L’IND EP EN DA N T
December 1 - 7, 2012
Foundation Committee Inc.
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news@independent.vu
VANUATU
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MP vows to fight corruption
by Hilaire Bule THE newly elected Banks and Torres MP and Vanuatu National Party president Christophe Emelee said it is time to address the issue of allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Mr Emelee said that allegations of improper use and corrupt dealings with public monies by leaders are public knowledge and need to be dealt with publicly. He said that as a new leader he is going to ask the government to set up a commission of inquiry into several claims of misuse and corruption in the public sector. Mr Emelee, who was Vanuatu’s consul in New Zealand and is now a government back bencher, said that he will use all means possible as an MP to tackle issues such as the spending of VT 80 million from MPIF by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the issue of Kakula Island in the north of Efate and other matters. He told The Independent that the first issue that must be dealt with is the spending of MPIF funds and he is in the process of requesting the government to appoint a commission of inquiry. Mr Emelee said that when he was the chairman of the Vanuatu Maritime Authority before the repealing of its act in 2007, and then as chairman of TAC, they had managed to put aside the total of VT 80 million when he left the government institution in 2010. He said that he was shocked to learn that there was now only about VT two million in the MPIF account. He said that regulation on the use of the fund is clearly set by a law that was approved by the Parliament of Vanuatu. Mr Emelee said that under Vanuatu regulations, the MPIF only covers marine investigation, international participation and nautical training. He said that any use of MPIF money outside the TAC’s regulation is illegal and could be considered as fraudulent practice. Mr Emelee referred to the spending of VT five million on the salvation of MV Rua Kaha and VT 28 million on an attempt to salvage MV Persishean on Tanna. Continued Page 2
INSIDE
Rotary... your’e all heart OUR hearts go out to young Victor Mete, who at just five-years-old deals daily with a health challenge that could easily prove fatal. The plucky youngster was born with a hole in his heart, a condition that severely restricts his life. But thanks to Rotary Vanuatu, Victor will shortly undergo lifesaving surgery in New Zealand. Story Page 2
Pascal Lamy en Masing mo Arnambat Océanie cette semaine long helt
ComPol saga still unresolved
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THE PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION AGENT OF THE INDEPENDENT ON OUTER ISLANDS IS VANUATU POST. COPIES RECEIVED BY OUTER ISLAND HIGH SCHOOLS ARE COURTESY OF WESTPAC VANUATU.
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