The secretary of the Vanuatu Presbyterian Church, Pastor Allan Nafuki, says the churches and the chiefs are planning measures to address the impasse created by the jailing of 14 members of parliament.
The members of parliament had been convicted on corruption charges.
Nafuki says they don’t want any more time wasting.
“We are calling from the grassroots, the people, that maybe we can see a better government but at the moment we are still waiting for whatever comes from the both sides.”
“We would recommend very strongly that we need a government to be set up as soon as possible.”
Nafuki says because of the cost of an election their preference is for a government of national unity to be formed.
Since the jailing of the 14 MPs a week ago Prime Minister Sato Kilman has been leading a minority government while the opposition can only muster 26 votes in the 52 seat parliament.
Mr Kilman wants fresh elections while the Opposition wants a government of national unity.
The President, Baldwin Lonsdale, has given both sides until Friday to resolve the impasse by forming a government of national unity, or he will dissolve parliament
Radio Vanuatu reports if the deadline is not met Lonsdale will have to take urgent steps to ensure the country is returned to stable government.
A meeting was scheduled on Monday to bring the Government and the Opposition together at State House but the Prime Minister Sato Kilman was unable to attend.
Eight appeal applications have been received by the Supreme Court from the jailed MPs.
The Appeal Court will sit from November the 9th and the court has scheduled two weeks to hear the appeals.
Jenny Hayward Jones of the Australian think tank, the Lowy Institute, says the weaknesses in Vanuatu’s political system have been exposed on a grand scale as have the flaws of many of Vanuatu’s elected politicians.
But she says there are positive signs for the country in the long-term.
“What this saga shows is that the rule of law has prevailed, Vanuatu’s courts are strong, that its judiciary is independent, that its president is strong enough to say no and is above the law.
“So all of these things, I think send a very positive signal, probably one of the most positive in the region that Vanuatu’s a place where you can do business and where the rule of law will be respected.”
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News category: Asia Pacific.
