News

Not guilty plea for Ministers in Vanuatu

Posted 24 Oct 2012

Two ministers in caretaker mode who are standing in Vanuatu's general election next week  have pleaded not guilty in the Magistrates Court to charges concerning boarding the Phocea superyacht, which is alleged to be under investigation for maritime and drugs offences.

Navigational precision needed when fishing near EEZs

Posted 22 Oct 2012

Image: The Lu Rong Yuan Yu 29 that will steer clear of NZ's EEZ in future (Photo: wcpfc.int)
The New Zealand Government is reported to have been paid NZD 50,000 (USD 41,045) per ship for three foreign fishing vessles caught operating unintentionally inside New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 2011.
The incursions were picked up by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) operated by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Forum Fisheries Agency.

Vanuatu official refused bail in Australia

Posted 22 Oct 2012

Media reports on 19 October 2012 suggest that a senior official arrested in Australia earlier this year while travelling with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, has been refused bail. The official is reported to have been charged with conspiracy to defraud  the Commonwealth. Australia is reported to have requested in 2008 that the accused be extradited from Vanuatu, but the application was refused.
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Bail refused in human trafficking prosecution in Fiji

Posted 18 Oct 2012

Justice Madigan in the Fiji High Court iin Zhang Yong v State [2012] FJHC 1368 refused bail on 12 October 2012 for an applicant facing  three counts of domestic trafficking in persons contrary to s115(3) of the Crimes Decree 2009.

WIPO makes progress towards a new international instrument on traditional knowledge and cultural expressions

Posted 18 Oct 2012

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) 185 member states have adopted a roadmap towards the negotiation of text(s) for international legal instrument(s) to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.
The negotiations would be conducted through the Intergovernmental Committee on Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Traditional Cultural Expressions (IGC).

Vanuatu Women's Centre Coordinator to speak in Sydney on violence against women

Posted 18 Oct 2012

Image: Vanuatu Women's Centre staff with the Australian Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO

Commissioner for Oaths - not just a fancy title

Posted 05 Oct 2012

Image: Fiji High Court, photo by Sarah Spackman

The Chief Justice of Fiji, the Hon Mr. Justice Anthony Gates, explained the responsibilities that are attached to the public office of Commissioner for Oaths at the swearing-in-ceremony for newly appointed Commissioners in September in Fiji.
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Trade outlook difficult but some progress in WTO

Posted 05 Oct 2012

The Chair of the WTO  Trade Negotiations Committee has released a detailed report on progress in the Doha Round of negotiations after the meeting of the WTO General Council.
Pascal Lamy welcomed Vanuatu to the WTO, but expressed sadness at the recent loss of Vanuatu's chief WTO negotiator Timothy Sisi. Mr Lamy said that Mr Sisi would be sorely missed by many.
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Fiji Times Ltd found guilty of contempt of court

Posted 04 Oct 2012

Media reports suggest that Justice William Calanchini of the Fiji High Court has found Fiji Times Limited, publisher Brian O'Flaherty and editor Fred Wesley guilty of contempt of court for an article published in November 2011 that criticised the judiciary in Fiji.
Justice Calanchini is reported to have found Mr O'Flaherty and Mr Wesley liable as publisher and editor under strict liability principles even though neither was on duty at the time of the offence.

Fijian legislation puts trade concessions at risk

Posted 04 Oct 2012

The Office of the United States Trade Representative held a public hearing on 2 October 2012 and received testimony relating to the use by Fiji of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The GSP is a US trade program which offers tariff reductions on certain goods to developing countries whose domestice labour standards comply with internationally recognised standards.