Samoa has promised the World Trade Organisation it will lift its current import ban on cars more than 12 years old and set up a vehicle safety inspection programme.
The WTO says it wants to accelerate Samoa’s integration into the world economy and offer a more transparent environment for trade and foreign investment.
Samoa has five years to make sure all cars are safe to drive.
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The chairman of Vanuatu’s Christian Council, Bishop James Ligo, says they are a Christian group and bribery would go against its principles He says the government should set up a commission of inquiry after it accused the Council of bribing opposition MPs to oppose the country joining the World Trade Organisation. The country’s MPs are Read more
The Prime minister of Vanuatu has criticised the Churches’ opposition to the WTO and has accused the Council of Churches of bribery after it paid allowances to opposition MPs attending a workshop opposing WTO membership.
His comments were made on Thursday during the final reading of the bill ratifying Vanuatu’s membership of the WTO. On Wednesday the bill passed its first reading by a vote of 26 to 21. However the Minister of Justice crossed the floor to vote with the opposition.
The Prime Minister, Mr Sato Kilman, said it would be interesting to learn where the Vanuatu Council of Churches got the money to pay the allowances. Other ministers were also critical of the Churches’ opposition. The minister of internal affairs who is responsible for churches, swore about the church leaders and NGOs but later withdrew the comment. The minister of public utilities said the role of the churches is to prepare the souls of the people for the next world, not to preach against the WTO.
Earlier International and Pacific organisations called on the Vanuatu government to respect the free speech of its citizens after it banned protests against joining the WTO.
Read the article...The Vanuatu Christian Council has been refused permission from the government to hold a peaceful march in Port Vila against the country’s accession to the WTO, (World Trade Organisation).
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Vanuatu’s Council of Churches is calling on the government to end land speculation and to provide much more comprehensive consultation on its plans for Vanuatu World Trade membership The Churches are concerned that indigenous people risk loosing their rights and their culture. The Council of Church’s chairman, Bishop James Ligo, says large numbers of people Read more