Pardon rumours scotched

PORT VILA - Vanuatu’s chiefs on Thursday met with the president, Baldwin Lonsdale, asking him to hold off any contemplated pardon of the 14 former MPs in jail on bribery convictions.

The president had earlier said he would not consider any pardons until after the MPs had finished their appeal process.

That happened on Monday and there are rumours circulating in Port Vila that Lonsdale is planning a pardon.

The chairman of the Port Vila Town Council of Chiefs and a member of the chiefs body, the Malfatumauri, Chief Isaac Worwor, says they met with the president and have been reassured.

“The rumours are going around in Port Vila but while we have discussions with him it looks like he is not in the position to pardon the 14 MPs.

What he told us is no-one is above the law and if any pardoning is going to happen, it must follow the process – same as the other prisoners.”

A young Vanuatu politician says he will continue serving the people who voted him into parliament despite the president’s decision to dissolve the house earlier this week.

Kenneth Natapei was elected as an MP for Port Vila last month in a by-election following the death of his father, Edward Natapei, but he did not even have a chance to take his oath on the floor of parliament before the dissolution.

Natapei says more than 4000 people voted him into power and he feels the pre sident’s actions have not only wasted taxpayers’ money but also robbed him of the opportunity to serve his constituents.

“After the elections I have had communities and young people approaching me for help in terms of aid. Donations of stuff and to help them with projects. ‘

- RNZI