In Brief: Dumped PM says he was ‘let down’

The new leader of Vanuatu’s opposition and dumped Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses, says his partners let him down.

Dumped PM says he was ‘let down’

VANUATU – The new leader of Vanuatu’s opposition and dumped Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses, says his partners let him down. Carcasses says he had approached his political partners before the no confidence motion last Thursday and told them that if he was the problem, he would resign. He says colleagues assured him they would vote against the motion but instead crossed the floor to topple him. He confirmed he is preparing a motion of no confidence against the new Prime Minister, Jo Natuman. “We have established a strong opposition office with some strong leaders and we are going to make sure that the government will be accountable for their actions on behalf of the people of Vanuatu.” Carcasses says it is the constitutional right of any member of parliament to launch a motion against any government of the day.

Chinese businesses targeted in riots

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The Solomon Islands Chinese Association says it is concerned that Chinese-owned businesses continue to be targets when unrest occurs in Honiara. The association’s chair, Matthew Quan says four businesses owned by Chinese people were looted and burned down during the riots over the weekend. Quan says he does not think Chinese people were being targeted because of their race, but because they own the majority of businesses there. “We tend to find ourselves in the path of angry mobs any time these things happen.” Quan says the way Solomons police reacted to the riots has given members of the Chinese community confidence to continue to run their businesses. Quan says those businesses affected intend to claim insurance and be up and running again soon.

Support for suspended Nauru MPs

NAURU – New Zealand Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman, David Shearer, says he hopes the Nauru Government will quickly reinstate the three MPs it suspended last week. Opposition MPs, Dr Kieren Keke, Mathhew Batsiua and Roland Kun were suspended from parliament, with the Government claiming they had blackened the country’s name overseas. Shearer, who is also in opposition, says it is the job of oppositions to ensure governments are held to account. “So long as it is kept in the context of making or keeping the government accountable, I think that is perfectly acceptable and I think that is what happens in every democracy. And I would hope that Nauru is able to see that.” The Nauru MPs have been seeking an independent legal opinion on their removal.

Ministers resign from Poyle’s party

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Three Papua New Guinea cabinet ministers and another MP have resigned from the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party. The four members are Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa, the Higher Education Minister Delilah Gore, Labour and Industial Relations Minister Benjamin Poponawa and the member for Ijivitari, David Arore. It comes after Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s sacking of THE party leader Don Polye as Treasurer and his subsequent move to the opposition. The resigning MPs say they still support the O’Neill–Dion government and say they have made the move in the interests of their constituents who want them in the government. The MPs say the other members of the THE Party will be resigning later in this week.

Tonga to commit to organic farming

FIJI – The chair of Tonga’s National Youth Congress says they hope the entire country will commit to organic farming within five years. Congress chairman, Drew Havea, says there was strong support from the largest island, Tongatapu, for the idea. Ha’apai committed to organics two years ago and Havea says it was relatively easy to certify whole islands but on Tongatapu they will need to vet individual farmers and he thinks this would take about five years. “We need the strong support of Government, and donors to help the farmers through this period of transition.” Havea says Tonga’s main organic export crops are squash and water melon but coconut oil is a growing market.