MAJOR PROBLEM
Debate over $1 billion Vanuatu nickel plant
Jamie Tahaha, Radio New Zealand International
Updated: October 4, 2014
Updated: October 4, 2014
Recently, Chinese-backed joints are direly searching for a location where they may be able to build a huge nickel smelter, hoping to benefit from the production of nickel, thus China proposed to build the smelter on Santo, Vanuatu the New Caledonian mining company MKM and Jin Pei of China also shipping nickel ore from New Caledonia to the smelter. This proposal did bring up the government by surprise.
Santo landowners approve of this sort of plan, however, Vanuatu’s Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu, thought otherwise. Regenvanu said, “It’s not happening, because the government knows nothing about it.” He claims that he wasn’t informed beforehand, first hearing this information from the report on Radio New Zealand. He also added, “No, we’re not interested in it. The area they’re talking about is a premier tourist destination in Vanuatu.” However, then-acting Prime Minister, Ham Lini, did meet the investors and claimed the government was interested.
MarcellinoPipite said that the government should consider building the mine for the sake of a healthy economy. However, former MP, Philip Pasvu, claim that residents will be severely affected, harming the environment, thus harming the residents’ health. Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman said the government stresses the importance of making sure the landowners are able to receive the benefits from the smelter, if built, as well as not harm the environment and the residents.
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/256175/debate-over-$1b-vanuatu-nickel-plant
Santo landowners approve of this sort of plan, however, Vanuatu’s Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu, thought otherwise. Regenvanu said, “It’s not happening, because the government knows nothing about it.” He claims that he wasn’t informed beforehand, first hearing this information from the report on Radio New Zealand. He also added, “No, we’re not interested in it. The area they’re talking about is a premier tourist destination in Vanuatu.” However, then-acting Prime Minister, Ham Lini, did meet the investors and claimed the government was interested.
MarcellinoPipite said that the government should consider building the mine for the sake of a healthy economy. However, former MP, Philip Pasvu, claim that residents will be severely affected, harming the environment, thus harming the residents’ health. Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman said the government stresses the importance of making sure the landowners are able to receive the benefits from the smelter, if built, as well as not harm the environment and the residents.
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/256175/debate-over-$1b-vanuatu-nickel-plant
Current event
VANUATU flood claims one life, 100 homeless
Two days of severe rain in Vanuatu resulted to the death of one man and left one-hundred individuals homeless. It was reported that the man who died attempted to save his cattle trapped in the Zono River when he was caught in the flood. The rain started on October 6, Monday night, residing on October 7, Tuesday afternoon. ShadrackWelegtabit, director of the Disaster Management Office, says the damage is being evaluated and will be known in the few following days.
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/256432/vanuatu-flood-claims-one-life,-100-homeless
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/256432/vanuatu-flood-claims-one-life,-100-homeless
vanuatu evicted to be moved to new site
Police enforce an eviction order against over 300 people who have been illegally living on government leased land, called Destination, near Port Vila’s airport since 2008. Indira Moala, the current police commissioner of Vanuatu, reports that he wasn’t sure why the residents settled there in the first place. Aru Maralau said that they attempted to obtain a stay order from the government, but the government refused and continued the eviction of the residents. The people at first were cooperative, but the day before the eviction, the residents put a road block that led to the airport, thus the arrest of 20 residents. Jeffrey Owen spoke for the residents, saying that the road block was put there because the “…government have to how we live and find our place to go.” After the eviction, land was found for the residents to move from Destination, Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister of Lands, saying that land was found and available outside Port Vila in Estas. Residents are to move out immediately. However, Regenvanu says that they are faced with how to provide service for those who are moving out of Destination. He also claims that the government will help residents settle to their new location.
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/20154379/vanuatu-evicted-to-be-moved-to-new-site
Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/20154379/vanuatu-evicted-to-be-moved-to-new-site