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Reviews the issues and events of the area. Covers Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.

Following one of the most tumultuous years in Vanuatu's history with the trial, conviction, and imprisonment of fourteen members of Parliament (MPS) on charges of bribery and corruption, there was some hope at the beginning of 2016 that things could only get better, though remnants of past events still remained to be dealt with. Unfortunately, the country faced serious economic problems stemming from the destruction brought in March 2015 by Cyclone Pam--a category five storm that ravaged the archipelago's eastern and southern islands as well as the nation's capital of Port Vila. The bribery case and imprisonment of elected MPS was obviously a prominent issue during the campaign, but it is clear that it did not have an overwhelming impact on the results. There was not a major swing against the parties that constituted the Kilman government as might have been expected, given the number of members who had been found guilty and imprisoned.

The headline in the Vanuatu Daily Post on the first day after the New Year holiday -- Police Boss Orders Bribery Case Completion -- indicate show intent the current government was to pursue the investigation of alleged bribery involving a number of members of Parliament (MPS) dating back to the previous year. Indeed, the bribery case dominated the news throughout 2015, making it the most politically unsettled year since Vanuatu's independence in 1980. Speaker of Parliament Phillip Boedoro ruled that the two motions should be dealt with in the order they were received; thus the bribery case against sixteen Opposition MPS was debated first. Carcasses denied the allegation of bribery, claiming instead that he had offered the money as loans to any MP who was willing to \"pledge their allegiance to him. The sixteen MPS left Parliament and remained absent for the rest of the session. Carcasses, however, turned to the Supreme Court for redress, arguing that only the court has the right to punish anyone and not parliament.

[...]there were periods of relative calm and moments of proud achievement with the introduction of a new system to elect municipal councils that guarantees women a third of the seats and the smooth election of Vanuatu's eighth president, and celebration when Vanuatu was finally connected to the Southern Cross undersea cable, providing a new level of communication to the rest of the world. [...]since independence, only five women have been elected to Parliament and a similar number to the municipal councils of Port Vila and Luganville.

Reviews the main political events and issues that took place in connection with Fiji, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. Includes human rights, the economy, the sugar industry, parliament, state security, politics, and more. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.