Tigi off to Vanuatu

Solomon Islands O’league rep, Solomon Warriors FC has sent off one of its players to play abroad as part of its preparation for the upcoming O’league.
Warrior’s striker, Tigi Molea departed yesterday to team up with the Vanuatu premier league club, the Seveners FC.

Solomon Warriors FC team manager, Doctor Kenton Sade who came to farewell Molea at the airport said the request from the Seveners came in April but it was denied since Warriors has to stay as a team for the recent S-league and the Championship.

Young Molea will be the first international import for the Seveners FC according to Dr Kenton.

“He is the first international import player for the Seveners and also the first player from Warriors to make the transfer.

“This marks the start a relationship between the two clubs,” he said.

He said the Warriors club management allows its players to play for the Seveners under the condition that they look after him and give him the opportunity to play.

Young Molea will be spending three months with the Seveners club before returning in December for final preparations for the O’league.

VNPF The Real Facts

A complaint to the Vanuatu's Daily Post for the non-professionalism in producing reports to the public at there personal interest, with claim and proofs out lined shows there is two sides to every stories.

Dear Editor,

Apart from the gross injustice your paper has done to the hard and honest work carried out by the VNPF’s General Manager and her dedicated team members who have been suspended, plus the outrageous way your paper has got away (so far) with the systematic dismantling of one’s good reputation through the blatant practice of defamation of character, it is appalling to see how low your paper is prepared to stoop to engage in gutter journalism.

A good journalist checks facts and endeavours to present a balanced report. It is obvious from your report that you have been in touch with disgruntled employees only, who cannot accept that the days of using Members’ contributions for their own personal gain are now over and that being an employee of the Fund now means performing for the good of the Fund and not for the good of oneself. It is also obvious that you are collaborating with political individuals who are using misguided information about the Fund to form a platform for their political garbage in the lead up to the elections. Unfortunately, also involved are jealous individuals who  cannot abide seeing a woman succeed where men  have failed. You have all successfully incited unrest amongst  Members, but not for long, as the truth will emerge when investigations begin, that is of course if the appointed investigators are independent and impartial.

In the meantime, allow me to present some facts that Fund Members need to take on board during this time of deception. Members, you will be alarmed at how much you have been mislead by people motivated by their own personal gain.

The VNPF’s current GM has had nothing but the best interests of the Fund’s Members and their contributions at heart. Her appointment in March 2011 coincided with the VNPF Board’s resolution to accept and implement the recommendations of a report carried out by two Australian funded consultants under the previous management. It is in the interest of the Fund’s Members that details of this report be made available as it reveals poor management practices which ultimately lead to the poor management of Members’ contributions. Apart from restructuring the organisation to allow internal functions to run more efficiently, the Australian consultants recommended action to be taken in certain areas to put an end to the mismanagement of contributions.

Some of these were that some employees of the Fund did not have the right background for  the job and were able to use Members’ contributions to gain qualifications they should have had before they were hired, some employees who were away on scholarships were also on full pay, some employees were being funded by Members’ contributions to pursue studies irrelevant to the Fund eg: Tourism Studies at USP, Members’ contributions were also being used to give employees an additional 2% contribution to their VNPF fund, contributions were also being used to fund a mismanaged staff social fund and the list goes on. In short Members’ contributions were being  used to provide the highest staff benefits scheme ever provided by an employer. The private sector is known for offering attractive benefits packages to attractive and retain the very best staff. I am  not aware of any organisation in the private sector let alone a statutory organisation in Vanuatu or the region that offers such generous benefits, especially to employees who are very easily replaceable.

Little wonder that some employees of the Fund who cannot accept that the honeymoon is now over, have resorted to misleading Members as the till has now been closed and the management of Members’ funds are at last in safe hands. See for yourselves on the Fund’s website or in its annual report. The reforms recommended by the Australian consultants and implemented by the new GM has resulted in a growth of 11%, that is the Fund has VT14.2 billion compared to VT12.7 billion in 2010, investment income went up from VT816 million in 2010 to VT912 million in 2011 and Members were paid 5.25% in dividends in 2011 compared to 4.5% in 2010 in other words VT 658 million was paid out to Members in 2011 compared to VT510 million in 2010. So, instead  of listening to the misleading information being put out by disgruntled employees, check the facts and see the results of what is now sound management practice.

As for allegations of nepotism in the hiring of staff since the new GM took over, how absurd! All you need to do is check out some of the disgruntled employees and see who they were related to under previous management. Furthermore, it was my job as the human resources consultant at the time to draw up a selection criteria for each position, vet all applicants, draw up a shortlist of candidates for interviews, interview the candidates with the GM and assist with the selection based on the criteria. Each person who was selected got through on their own merit and proven professional reputation. All recruitment steps as outlined in VNPF’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures were followed. If some of those selected came from TVL, an organisation where employees know what hard work and productivity is all about, then good luck to them as they were the best pick of the crop and, as a recognised human resources specialist, the selection of the human resources manager was my selection.

Furthermore you have stated in your paper that the GM pays herself more than any other GM of the Fund. Do you really know what you’re talking about here? Fancy publishing such incorrect rubbish. How irresponsible of you to mislead the public. If you took the time to check, as we expect journalists to do, you would discover that the GM’s salary is set by the VNPF Board and secondly if you took the time to check, you would learn that she is  being paid far less than previous GMs. So get your facts right.

VNPF Members, the sooner you can avail yourselves of the facts and silence these misinformed critics and, most of all, those disgruntled employees who have been bludging off you for years by using your contributions for their own gain, and the sooner the GM and her team can get back to work, the better for you!

Veronica McCoy
Human Resources Development South Pacific
Fiji.

Nice to Meat You, Lady Gaga!

Remember Lady Gaga's meat dress? Of course you do. It was massive news back in 2010 when the kooky star rocked up to the MTV Video Music Awards wearing a frock that looked like it should be served up at Gaucho's.
Now the star has worked with that theme and included a meat COUCH in her show. The Bad Romance star included the weird prop in her show in Bulgaria, perhaps to steal focus from the strange bra she was wearing.

'Wizard Obama' meme takes off after photog's 'magical' pic emerges

Has President Barack Obama turned into a wizard without telling any of us? Not really, but it kind of looks like he has in the first photo of this slideshow that, surprisingly, wasn’t Photoshopped. Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster snapped the original picture of Obama looking like he’s holding the sun as he was speaking during a campaign event at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Monday. Of course, a photo like this is meme fodder, and redditors have already posted a photo of Obama in space, as well as the president having “an Avengers moment.” On Meme Generator, “Wizard Obama” is taking off (expect Harry Potter references). Here are some of our favorites.

Is Facebook Really In Trouble?

Are we becoming bored of Facebook? Have we suffered one big change too far?
Facebook's first earnings report as a public company had solid numbers, but in the end it landed with a thud - much like its rocky initial public offering two months ago.

Facebook reported stronger-than-expected revenue and a gain in user numbers but investors were not impressed and after a brief spike, its stock tumbled nearly 9%, or 2.38 US dollars, to 24.47 dollars in after-hours trading. It had closed down 8.5%, or 2.50 dollars, at 26.84 dollars

At its lowest ebb the value of shares fell a full 24 per cent since the social network floated itself on the stock market, earning itself the accolade of second-worst performing technology offering of 2012.

A recent survey by the American Customer Satisfaction Index indicated that only 61 per cent of Facebook users are satisfied with the social network. We take a look at some of Facebook's recent big changes and ask has our beloved social network reached a plateau. Is the writing on the wall?

Vanuatu’s VNPF reopened under police protection

Staff at the Vanuatu National Provident Fund have resumed work under police security after protests prompted its closure last week.

Last week’s protests outside the Fund’s premises in Port Vila saw hundreds of people gathered allegedly unhappy with high salaries paid to senior staff, including the general manager, Aniva Tarilongi.

The crowd also alleged there was misuse of the members’ contributions by management, nepotism in the recruitment of new staff and a politicisation of the pension provider.

As a result of the public anger, the Board of Directors suspended Mrs Tarilongi and six senior staff.

A meeting at the Port Vila water front heard fears that the money is no longer safe, but the government has denied this.

Another meeting is scheduled to take place this Thursday.

From Denmark To Bhutan: The Policies Of Happiness

Over the last 100 years, living standards in the West have improved enormously, but it appears that people have not become much happier. In 2006, the first ‘Happy Planet Index’ (HPI) measured happiness across 178 countries. The small south Pacific island of Vanuatu was the happiest nation. Germany ranked 81st, Japan 95th and the US 150th. The index was based on consumption levels, life expectancy and reported happiness. Although Vanuatu was top, it only ranked 207th out of 233 economies when measured against Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Various surveys have indicated that while wealthy western nations use up vast quantities of the world's scarce resources, many of their citizens are not much happier, or are indeed less happy, than those who belong to poorer countries that use far fewer resources.

Click here to read more: http://www.countercurrents.org/todhunter190812.htm

Vanuatu Gospel Praise

I have been an listening to all Vanuatu gospel groups performing, but it was not like yesterday. I experienced heaven on earth, after attending the Vanuatu Gospel Praise show last night at club Vanuatu, all performing choirs do sounds like am being entertained by a group of angles, I was thinking I was in heaven. I would always want to hear all these praises again and soon.

No jobs for Vanuatu Nursing School graduates

There are no jobs for 22 recent graduates from Vanuatu’s College of Nursing Education due to a lack of Health Department funding.

This is despite a shortage of medical personnel which has forced the Vanuatu Government to recruit nurses from Solomon Islands over the past two years.

Murielle Baker reports.

“The College of Nursing Principal, Evelyn Emile, confirms a budget problem at the Ministry of Health has left the 22 new graduates unemployed. The nurses had expected to find jobs within the public health system after finishing their studies, but were told on graduating that their salaries had not been budgetted for this year. In 2010, 4 Solomons nurses were recruited and another 20 last year and they are continuing to work in Vanuatu. Ms Emile says she hopes many of the new local nurses will be able to get work in the public sector by January next year.”

BABY Nadia Lathdaniella Hava

The Family Welcomes you.

Being an Uncle make a man look like a grown up, today I get to be an uncle again. Congratulation big sis on your JEWEL and stacks of JOY. The family welcomes he in warmth and tenderness, enjoy the many blessings to come princess.

Vanuatu's Iaruel shines in Stoke City triumph

Young goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel's trial at English Premier League outfit Stoke City has gotten off to a promising start with the Vanuatu international playing an impressive role in a win for the club's U-18 side.

 

The 17-year-old took up his place between the sticks in the second half as Stoke's youngsters trounced their counterparts from Brentford 4-1.

The match was Iaruel's first piece of action in a Stoke shirt after several days of training at the club's academy and he put in a strong showing.

"I enjoyed my first game with Stoke and I think I made some good saves," he says.

Iaruel has been made to feel welcome at the club and is looking forward to continuing his trial.

"I am so glad to be here on trial, it's a great club and the staff, coaches, volunteers and fans are great. They have made me feel at home even though I am far away from Vanuatu."

The promising teen has impressed enough so far to be offered an extension to his trial period and will now be at Stoke for another month.

Academy recruitment manager Kevin Scott says there is a chance Stoke will sign him if he continues to do well.

"We are happy to have a Pacific Island boy with us and if he works hard enough we will decide if we can sign him," he says.

"It is up to him to perform, he must work hard in training and perform well in the matches."

Iaruel is pleased to have seen his trial extended but knows he still has plenty to do to achieve his goal of earning a professional contract.

"I hope I can work hard enough to convince them but, to be honest, it's not easy," he says.

CREEPY

Whats Happening now is so creepy, two nights ago, a snake was discovered inside a very well sealed area, with no possibility of entering or exiting. But a snake finds its way in to that protected area, suspiciously, I assume its witchcraft.

Vanuatu i selebreitim International Day of the World's Indigenous People

Australia Hai Komisin long Vanuatu i holim namba tu yar blong Arts Festival na dispela yar, ol i bringim wanpela lain pipol blong Aboriginal na Torres Strait Island long stap insait long dispela wan wik festival.

Dispela dei, em United Nations i makim long kalenda blong ol, i hap blong luksave na selebresin blong ol as-ples indijines pipol raun long wol.

Hai Komisin blong Australia long Vanuatu, long dispela wik i pinis i bin redim dispela Arts Festival we ol indijines pipol blong Austalia, i stap insait long ol kalsa bung na hamamas blong ol Ni-Vanuatu pipol.

Yohann Lemonnier, Public Diplomacy Officer wantaim Australia Hai Komisin long Vanuatu i tok, dispela festival ibin gutpela long soim stail na kastom danis na pasin blong ples blong tupela lain wan wantaim.

9/8/2012 DailyPost HeadLine : Nepotism rife within VNPF

Damaging media reports into alleged mismanagement practices within the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) by Anniva Tarilongi’s management is allegedly deeper than previously thought with more revelations that nepotism and politics are taking a foothold on the people’s only retirement scheme.
This modus operandi seems to be having a hand in major management decisions—whether it is recruitment procedures, tendering processes or salary increments for certain members of staff and the managerial team.

Click here to read More. 
http://www.dailypost.vu/content/nepotism-rife-within-vnpf

Nepotism rife within VNPF

This headline spotlights the VNPF due to one's interest in a bunch of  stuffs.
The line of interest were on:

• Aniva Tarilongi: GM (General Manager)
• The salary
• The Position
• The Island-ism, friend including her managements.
• Nadia Kanegae: HR, Risk Managements.
• Positions at the VNPF
• Involvement with PPP politics
• Connections with MP Sato Kilman
• Advice on recruiting former TVL Staff's at VNPF
• Madeline Sewere:
• Sister of MP Sato Kilman.
• George Pakoa: VNPF (handy man)
• Salary (Statement: "he is the highest payed handy man")

Please read this blog for more updates tomorrow.

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Wells confirms suspension over serious allegations

Minister of Internal Affairs, George Wells has confirmed to Daily Post that he has suspended Inspector Andrew Kalman who is charged with a variety of serious allegations of misconduct in office as reported by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Arthur Caulton.
This confirmation comes after media in the country has been reporting in the past week that the Head of the Fraud Unit of the Vanuatu Police Force had been suspended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Georges Wells.

It is alleged Inspector Kalman was interfering with police investigation into the illegal entry of the luxury yacht “Phocea” now anchored in Port Vila harbor and the activities of the owner of the yacht, Pascal Saken also known as Anh Quan Saken.
According to authorities, Kalman was also suspected of allegedly involved in Saken escaping the police net.

He was suspected of deliberately delaying the application for a search warrant allowing Saken time to escape flying off from Bauerfield Airport a day before police boarded and searched the yacht. Authorities within the Ministry fear Kalman’s continued engagement with the investigation into the Phocea could seriously compromise the work including collection of information and evidence for conviction of suspects in an appropriate court jurisdiction.
Other allegations against Inspector Kalman contained in the Acting Commissioner’s letter to the Minister recommending his suspension include conducting illegal dealings such as selling valuable information for money with certain people and businesses in the capitol.
Allegations were also leveled against Kalman in the letter in relation to the issue of smuggling of high powered arms as well as money laundering and breaches of laws of Vanuatu such as Immigration Act and Customs Act in connection with the Phocea case in which suspects have been arrested and detained so far.

Based on the seriousness of these allegations, and in accordance with Section 70(1) of the Police Act CAP105, the Minister of Internal Affairs Georges Wells interdicted Inspector Andrew Kalman on July 27 until an investigation into his case and its determination is completed.
Section 70 (1) of the Police Act states that “The Minister (of Internal Affairs) may on recommendation of the Commissioner and at any time interdict from duty any senior police officer pending: -An inquiry under Section 67 (1) into any disciplinary offense of which he is charged.”
Meanwhile, Mr Andrew Kalman has told Daily Post yesterday that he denies all allegations leveled against him.
In relation to the reason that he was allegedly involved in assisting Anh Quan Saken escape the police, Kalman said it is not true that he assisted Saken as he does not know him.

On the issue of deliberately delaying application for a search warrant, Kalman said the delay was not his part but that of the Magistrate Court. He said he along with others who are his witness who went to obtain the search warrant were delayed by the Magistrate.
Kalman said there were people who witnessed this delay by the Magistrate.
In regards to allegations of illegal dealings such as selling of valuable information for money with certain people and businesses in the capital, Kalman denies these allegations.

18 Vanuatu women look to stand in October elections

Vanuatu’s Department of Women’s Affairs is helping to train women preparing to stand in the election.

18 women have been attending a workshop organised by the department on Efate into the workings of parliament and being an MP.

It is part of efforts to increase women’s participation in the elections set for October the 30th.

Vanuatu voters have elected five women to the 52-seat parliament since independence in 1980 and the current parliament has just one woman MP.

Four years ago, 18 of the 349 candidates were women.

The Electoral Commission is due to officially announce the names of candidates next month.

Vanuatu minister breaks silence over Phocea affair

RNZI: Vanuatu’s internal affairs minister, George Wells, has broken his silence over the Phocea affair.

The luxury yacht had reportedly been visited by unnamed government ministers before authorities searched it for suspected weapons and fake Vanuatu passports.

The head of the Transnational Crime Unit, Andrew Kalman, in charge of the probe was subsequently suspended, prompting him to challenge the government move in court.

Mr Wells has now accused Mr Kalman of interfering with the investigations, by deliberately delaying court documents that should have been processed quickly to arrest the owner of the yacht.

The minister says this allowed the reported owner to escape the police net and catch a plane out of the country.

But Mr Kalman has denied the allegation, saying there are witnesses to prove that he was not in any way trying to delay the processing of the court papers.

EMPTY GUTS

I can feel the rush in my guts right now, I thing am starving, or may be am just imagining things. lol, realized I miss my Med time, it is pasted it by 1 hour. lol, ok I just need to take in those drug, now am gonna starve more, lol, do you think so?, I don't, May be coz its just me, bahahahahha, am I talking crazy? Yeah!! Hell i'am, crap, do I need another Drug for that!, Nope, I dont think so.... Well I need a Drug test, "What for" who just said that? I thing some one is in my head!, GET THE F*** out of my Head... !! you there? nope I don't think no one is in there... ok... Cool.. am just fine... I, Just sKipED MEAL thats all...

Pallen Thiam's BLOG

lol I think my blos is becoming more like a new spot now, how do I get rid of this, I try not to but they keep coming and I have more space for news that talk about what I should be doing for the day. lol....

Mobile pornography concerns among Pacific youth

The United Nations has warned there's growing evidence teenagers in the Pacific are making and accessing mobile phone pornography.

A Tongan youth is currently before the courts having been charged with the production and distribution of pornographic videos on mobile phones.

It's believed Tongan police are also investigating four other pornographic related offences.

UN representative in the Pacific region Dirk Jena, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat during a recent visit to Vanuatu, mobile phone pornography was a concern among authorities there also.

"The issue is, it's spread through mobile phones and the people describe it as kind of spreading like an epidemic," he said.

"People compare it with how STIs (Sexually transmitted infections) have spread in the Pacific."

Some analysts estimate the spread of mobile pornography to by worth more than $US2 billion.

Mr Jena says the growing mobile population and the high proportion of young people in Pacific countries makes this an important issue for the region.

"The environment that the youth is growing up is so different from the past, so we have to adjust our programs," he said.

"That's why we want to bring this out, to get more reactions from the population on how we can deal with it."

Mr Jena also says concerns were raised about the role mobile phones and social media were playing in reshaping the relationships among young Pacific Islanders.

"The concern is that affects the school community - mainly the relationship between boys and girls," he said.

"Mobile-dating leads to more intercourse, especially at social events...and the concerns was how should we address that? Should we, in the schools ban this type of thing?

"We don't have the right answer at the moment, because not too much research has been done around this."

Law students go hungry

GOVERNMENT sponsored law students studying at Emalus Campus in Vanuatu are experiencing food crisis with most of them going hungry for the past three weeks.
This follows the slow response by the government to settle their allowance to pay for food.

Not only that but they still yet to receive their course materials for their second semester.

One student told Solomon Star last night that they are now finding it hard to survive and how to get their course materials.

“At the moment we have to skip two meals and instead have one meal each day to keep us going while waiting for our allowances,” the concern student said.

The student said their second semester has already started three weeks ago but Solomon Islands students are yet to receive their course materials.

“This has affected our study on the campus,” the student added.

The student calls on the Ministry of Education to settle their allowances as quickly as possible.

About 74 students are currently studying Law at Emalus campus in Vanuatu.

Meanwhile USP students based in Suva have reportedly received their allowance yesterday following a quick response by the government.

Attempts to get comments from the education or finance ministry last night for comments were unsuccessful.

However its likely the Vanuatu-based students will receive their payments soon following the release of funds by the government last week.

Tonga police join Vanuatu’s Phocea probe

RNZI: Tongan police have begun working with their Vanuatu counterparts in investigating the luxury yacht, the Phocea.

The boat was seized in Port Vila last month amid allegations involving drugs, weapons and the use of fake Vanuatu passports.

Radio Tonga says it was told that while the mega yacht was in Nuku’alofa, a luncheon was hosted and attended by government leaders and MPs.

It says following a complaint about unusal activities, the vessel was searched in Nukualofa and cleared by customs officials.

However, Tongan authorities are yet to establish how a Tongan national Maikolo Tangatalakepa got onboard.

He was among the passengers in Port Vila but Radio Tonga says he had last been in Nukualofa in 2006.

Radio Tonga also says 10 people arrived in Tonga by plane to board the yacht, including the reported owner, Anh Quan Saken, and five women from Serbia and the Philippines.

There is an information blackout in Vanuatu and the country’s only officer trained to investigate fraud and international crime, Andrew Kalman, has been suspended.

Vanuatu baby named for French hospital mission

A baby from the Catholic mission of Melsisi on Pentecost island in Vanuatu has been named in honour of the French military’s recent Castor Operation in the area.

It is in acknowledgement of the work the soldiers did renovating what had been a health centre but the Vanautu government has now upgraded to a hospital.

A midwife at Melsisi hospital, Edwidge Tabi, says the local chiefs and people promised the French soldiers when they left last week that the first babies born after they’d gone would be called Castor and Castorine.

The first male baby was born the day after the army had gone and has been named Castor Bulekone.

A doctor is to be appointed shortly to the new hospital while equipment, such as X-ray machinery, is to be installed.

Vanuatu opposition unhappy with government stance on Phocea

Vanuatu’s opposition Vanuaaku Party says it fears no government ministers will be disciplined or prosecuted over alleged links to the Phocea affair.

Before the luxury yacht Phocea was seized in Port Vila last month, government ministers were reportedly seen on the vessel.

The yacht was searched for suspected trafficking of arms and sale of Vanuatu diplomatic passports, and reports say drugs were found which had been brought onto the boat from the Port Vila area.

The Vanuaaku Party alleges that the suspension of the country’s only officer trained to investigate fraud and international crime, Andrew Kalman, shows that the government wants to shut down a possible probe of these ministers.

Police have declined to comment, referring the matter to the prime minister, Sato Kilman, who is abroad.

Observers say the prime minister’s silence may be due to the politicians in question having repeatedly rescued him in the face of a motion of no confidence.

Mr Kalman plans legal action over his surprise suspension, which he put down to greed and special interests.

Vanuatu's Iaruel gets taste of professional life with EPL's Stoke City & Manchester City

Young goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel has arrived in the United Kingdom for a series of trials with professional clubs and has already been given a taste of what life could be like if he is able to secure a contract. 

 

The Vanuatu international is set to try his luck with Stoke City and may also put his skills to the test at fellow English Premier League outfits Manchester City and Everton.

He arrived in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday and was welcomed in fitting fashion with a tour of the club's impressive training facilities.

The Tafea player has been accompanied to England by his current club's president, Saby Natonga, and the pair were shown around the Stoke City academy, as well as getting the chance to check out the training set-up of the first team, who finished 14th in last season's premier league.

Iaruel has received a warm reception from Kevin Scott, the club's academy recruitment manager, who sees no reason why the exciting prospect can't make a positive impression during his time at Stoke.

“We are very happy to have a player from the Pacific Islands come to the club," Scott says.

"We have players from all over the world in our squad and to welcome someone from a small country like Vanuatu is very encouraging because, when you look at top players like Ronaldo and Nani, they come from very small villages and today they play professional football.”

Iaruel, 17, officially begins his trial today and is looking forward to showing what he can do.

"These kind of chances only come around once and I will do everything I possibly can to enter one of these teams for the good of football in Vanuatu," he says.

The Vanuatu Football Federation academy product earned the opportunity after impressing Australia-based Stoke City agent Andrew Parkes on a trip to Brisbane in March with the Vanuatu U-23 team, who were preparing for the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifier at the time.

If he does manage to put pen to paper on a deal, he is likely to find a degree of fame and fortune unheard of for any other Ni-Vanuatu footballer.

He would become the third player to enter the professional ranks since the Pacific's finest players were on show at the OFC Nations Cup in June, following in the footsteps of Solomon Islands' Benjamin Totori and New Caledonia's Georges Gope-Fenepej, who signed with Wellington Phoenix and French Ligue 1 side ESTAC Troyes respectively.

Vanuatu Law Society holding public debates on drugs and sex work

People in Vanuatu’s capital have the opportunity to say whether marijuana should be decriminalised, as part of the Vanuatu Law Society’s Law Week.

One of the event’s main organisers, Arthur Faerua, says there are many different activities taking place to publicise the role of lawyers and the law in his country.

But he says public debates on marijuana and sex work will test people’s appetite for their legalization.

“We cannot help but accept the fact that marijuana is now widely used in Vanuatu, especially in the towns, and young people have access to marijuana, marijuana grows naturally in Vanuatu, but of course the laws in Vanuatu are not able to deal with marijuana as such and the court system is not able to deal entirely with the problem of marijuana.”

Arthur Faerua says rehabilitation and education are the solutions to the problem of marijuana.

Young Vanuatu football international GK lands trials with EPL's Stoke City and Manchester City

Young Vanuatu international Seiloni Iaruel has scored the opportunity of a lifetime with trials lined up at English Premier League clubs Stoke City and Manchester City. 

 

The 17-year-old left for the United Kingdom today and can't wait to touch down and begin testing his skills in a professional environment.

"These kind of chances only come around once and I will do everything I possibly can to enter one of these teams for the good of football in Vanuatu," Iaruel says.

"I am representing not just my club and my family but my country as well and I will try to open the door for Vanuatu to European football."

The teenage custodian earned the chance to try his luck in England after impressing Australia-based Stoke City agent Andrew Parkes on a trip to Brisbane in March with the Vanuatu U-23 team, who were preparing for the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifier at the time.

"I wish Seiloni all the best for his trials," Parkes says.

"It will be up to Seiloni's performance and attitude both on and off the park so I hope he has been putting in lots of hard work in his preparation to make sure he is ready. I am personally very excited for him and I hope he makes us all proud."

If the Tafea player does manage to put pen to paper with either club, he is likely to find a degree of fame and fortune unheard of for any other Ni-Vanuatu footballer.

He would become the third player to enter the professional ranks since the Pacific's finest players were on show at the OFC Nations Cup in June, following in the footsteps of Solomon Islands' Benjamin Totori and New Caledonia's Georges Gope-Fenepej, who signed with Wellington Phoenix and French Ligue 1 side ESTAC Troyes respectively.

Iaruel is aware the odds are stacked against him but, given his rapid rise through the ranks to the top of Oceania football, few would bet against him pulling off the seemingly impossible.

He first played for Vanuatu in the national U-15 team at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore two years ago and has gone on to progress through the ranks, representing his country at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level before being called up to the senior squad.

Capping that remarkable rise off with a professional contract would be a memorable moment indeed.

"It would be like winning the lottery," Iaruel says.

The exciting prospect is a product of the country's national academy in Teouma and Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) technical director Charles Vatu hopes he will be the first of many to head overseas.

"If Seiloni can be given this opportunity, it means that there are others in the country who could follow soon," Vatu says.

"All it needs is effective development programmes from clubs to national level."

SNOOP LION

Reincarnated from a dog to a lion.

Yacht, crew detained in South Pacific

A yacht and several of her crew have been detained in Vanuatu amid speculation of drug running, arms running and money laundering.

The captain and at least two men who crewed on the 75m S/Y Phocea have been arrested, according to a story on the New Zealand news site Stuff.

The men have pleading not guilty and will go to trial later this month.

According to news reports, the yacht set off from Italy, went through the Panama Canal and stopped in Tonga before mooring in Vila Harbour nearly two weeks ago. The yacht remains in Vila.

Read more Click here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/7391641/Deepening-mystery-around-seized-Vanuatu-yacht 

Vanuatu PM unhappy about yacht allegations

Vanuatu's prime minister, Sato Kilman, is unhappy about the controversy that's blown up in the wake of the arrival of a super yacht in Port Vila.

The yacht, the Phocea, has been detained on suspicion of carrying guns and drugs, but there are allegations that two cabinet ministers boarded the yacht before customs and immigration officers did.

Two of the yacht crew, a Samoan and a Tongan have been charged with obtaining citizenship by false and misleading statements and have entered not guilty pleas.

The head of the police unit investigating the yacht, Andrew Kalman, has been suspended from duty.

Richard Kaltongga, adviser to the prime minister, says investigations are still going on.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker:Richard Kaltongga, adviser to Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Deputy opposition leader Edward Natapei

KALTONGGA: The issue of the vessel is the vessel is still being detained by the police and the security services and they're still going through the vessel, There were a lot of irregularities associated with the vessel, which would suggest that they may have contribution or contravened several laws and some of our legislation. We are informed that the papers that we presented to customs and immigration people may have been false. The prime minister had no knowledge of the vessel and its impending arrival. He was not aware despite the fact that there were some comments, we've heard of some comments made that the prime minister was invited on board. The prime minister was never invited on board and he reissued instruction that he would not go on board this vessel. Also we asked the police to commence investigation into the allegations surrounding the vessel. We are aware that a couple of ministers may have been involved and some backbenchers who I'm not sure which side whether they were the Opposition or the government side.

The prime minister did call the foreign minister in and met with him yesterday seeking investigations. I'm aware under the powers to make diplomatic appointments, the prime minister has requested that this be transferred directly to the control of the prime minister, because some of the issues may have been involved with the whole fiasco surrounding this vessel.

HILL: Meanwhile, the deputy opposition leader, Edward Natapei, is calling on prime minister Sato Kilman to step down if nothing is done.

NATAPEI: Would Minister Sato be found on the ship and instead of disciplining the ministers, they've gone and disciplined the police officer who is responsible for leading the arrest of the ship and it is becoming very, very suspicious to us that there is something really fishy going on.

Richard Kaltongga says the suspension of Mr Kalman from the police has come as a surprise to Prime Minister Kilman.

KALTONGGA: We heard of the crime unit who has been very, very closely with the prime minister Sato in investigating civil matters including the Citizenship Commission allegations on which case, the case has come against the courts, but we were just as surprised that he stood down and we understand that this came by as a request from his minister, but I understand that the Acting Commissioner of Police is looking into the matter.

HILL: So the prime minister was surprised to find that Mr Kalman has been stood down?

KALTONGGA: Yes.

HILL: Deputy opposition leader Edward Natapei says there is a long standing problem with the issuing of diplomatic passports to foreign nationals.

NATAPEI: Yeah, this has been a feature that has been happening in Vanuatu. If you recall, we actually pass legislation to not allow foreigners be issued with diplomatic passports. Just before the end of the last session, the government passed legislation to open that up and allow for foreign nationals to be issued with diplomatic passports and we have information that there were some diplomatic passports which were given to some of the people on board the yacht when they arrived one week before the police made the arrest.

HILL: Mr Natapei says foreign businessmen often get involved in Vanuatu politics to obtain diplomatic passports in exchange for large sums of money. Money which he says is often used to persuade MPs to support one political party or another in the aftermath of a general election. Prime Minister Kilman's adviser, Richard Kaltonnga, says the PM is not happy with what's happened in the wake of the arrival of the super yacht, and he is taking action to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen again.

KALTONNGGA: The prime minister is not happy with the way. He did actually issue instructions earlier in the last year that there would be no more diplomatic appointments unless they follow the proper channels which was included an approval by the Council of Ministers.

HILL: So will the prime minister also be looking at the possible involvement in this issue of some senior Cabinet ministers?

KALTONNGA: Yes, we already aware of who is involved. On the important thing is that we, Vanuatu has its laws and they must be followed, they might have the laws for everybody whether he be a minister or he be an individual or on a street a Ni Vanuatu citizen or a foreigner. We have our laws and we must all abide by them and that has been the prime minister's stand all along, which is why we've been conducting all our investigations into different areas where there has been some questionable histories