The devil is havin’ a partay in Vanuatu right now. Amidst the global financial crisis, the local high unemployment rate, inadequate service delivery to the 80% (majority) of the population, increased crime rate and high inflation, the government decides to pass an Employment Ammendment Act that increases the minimum wage from VT20000 to VT26000. This seems like a logical move and understandable to the average employee (and probably employer), but it doesn’t stop there. The Act was further ammended such that employees can be entitled to 2 months severance pay for every year worked. That is an increase of 400% – from the 2 weeks stated in the original Act.
Business houses and the general private sector voiced their concerns over an FM107 talk-back show (hosted by Godwin Ligo), addressing the mentioned ammendments. It appears that a lot of businesses will lay off the majority of their staff if they have to keep to the conditions of the said ammendment. An article to the Vanuatu Daily Post observed that these ammendments will be the death of Vanuatu as an economic nation. The title of this particular observer’s article was “Vanuatu closed for business.”
And then, as if that was not enough, the Prime Minister Honorable Edward Nipake Natapei declared in an emotional moment – live on national television – that “God blong mi i no failem mi yet”. The reason for this unmanly show of emotion stemmed from his government’s defeat of a motion of no trust against him – passed during parliament – one day after the Employment Ammendment Act was debated – althouth the ammemdment was not the reason for the motion (the opposition actually supported the employment ammendment act). The motion of no trust agains Hon Natapei was a continuation of two previous motions against him, claiming that the methods he used to garner the numbers to support him in his second term as Prime Minister were unconstitutional.
The motion’s predecessors did not go through due to lack of support from opposition – not enough members to get the motion through. The motion was defeated with 26 members of parliament voting against it, 24 voting for it and one member abstaining. The reason for the abstention is yet to be revealed to the members of parliament and Vanuatu as a whole.
The emotional Hon. Prime Minister declared that his God had not yet failed him, thanking those who had been praying for the motion’s defeat and Papa God. In an ironic turn of events, the leader of opposition MP Maxime Carlot Korman, speaking as the mover of the motion, said that only God would reveal the truth behind the PM’s actions – in His divine will. Hon. Korman gave his speech during inside parliament while the emotional PM thanked the same God after the motion had been defeated.
Meanwhile, MP for Port Vila, Mr. Ralph Regenvanu has submitted a list of “written” questions to Hon. Raphael Worwor (MP for Ambrym) concerning the issue of three “cautions” launched against the government for building the much talked about Fish Processing Plant at Blacksands. The three “cautions” were raised by three different parties – implying that the land on which the fish processing plant is being built might be under dispute. Lord help us!
The women have voiced their concern over the appointment of a man to look after the department of women’s affairs. Like the chief’s wife observed in “Vot long pati ia”, a film by Wan Smolbag Theatre, “ol man i no save lukaotem kijim blong olgeta nomo… hao nao bae oli save lukaotem gavman?” or something to that effect. Prior to that, the former President of the Vanuatu National Council of Women (VNCW) (Mrs. Jenny Ligo) was in a row with the current VNCW president, Mrs Lesline Malsungai, the subject of their public grappling was some mobile phones donated to VNCW by a similar organization in China.
And on the mention of China, I winch at the thought that Vanuatu might soon be run by the Chinese governments. This country has been receiving so much aid from the Chinese that Australia is becoming restless and Taiwan is probably fuming at Vanuatu for switching allegience to the One-China policy. Indonesia is trying its best to convince Vanuatu that the Melanesian brothers (and sisters) under its rule are safe and sound. Some West Papuans under Indonesian rule are seeking refugee status in Vanuatu, after Papua New Guinea decided to send them back across the border – to certain death, said a spokesperson.
The chiefs have not issued a statement about anything yet – a sure sign that the Malvatumauri council of chiefs is on the brink of extinction. The religious observers would say that the devil is having a party in this “untouched paradise”, rated as the “happiest place on earth.” Some will be quoting texts from the Bible prophesying the fall of a nation and the world as a whole. Others will be praying for deliverance while the unbelievers will be making cynical remarks about His deliverance.
We are indeed living in the end times! Jisas, Yu kam bak hariap!
Filed under: News
