SPECIAL FEATURE: PARLIAMENTARY PREVIEW

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

Ministry Description AMT Agriculture Agriculture Operations VT12,000,000 Agriculture Agriculture Payroll VT15,000,000 THE PRICE OF STABILITY Agriculture Biosecurity VT8,000,000 Agriculture Corporate Services VT12,000,000 Agriculture Fisheries Operations VT35,000,000 (SPOILER: It’s about VT 132 million more this year) Agriculture Fisheries Payroll VT5,300,000 Agriculture Legal Fees VT10,000,000 Agriculture Livestock Operations VT30,000,000 founding fathers foresaw Dan McGarry Agriculture Livestock Payroll VT3,000,000 their usefulness as political It’s official: The price of plums and took steps to Climate Change COP23/UNFCC VT5,000,000 political stability for 2017 constrain this abuse. Climate Change Corporate Services VT3,000,000 is VT 132,475,300. Isaac Daniel Education TVET Operations VT8,000,000 Some seasoned political Jay Ngwele Kalo Pakoasongi Tom Iouniwan Nakou Natuman Alickson Viralone Johnny Koanapo Kenneth Natapei Ronald Warsal Norris Kalmet Tangoliu Ishmael Kalsakau That’s the amount of commentators have blamed RDP RDP RDP RDP VP VP VP VP VP VP VP GJP IND UMP Finance ACP/EU Meeting VT20,000,000 supplementary budget the imbalance between MPs Bauerfi eld Airport SPEAKER Finance VT90,000,000 allocated to payrolls and and cabinet posts for the Extension operations of the four new chronic instability that has Parliamentary Secretary beset the country since the Finance Commission of Inquiry VT12,000,000 positions created by Prime 1990s. Writing in a public Finance Customs/Inland Revenue VT100,000,000 Minister in policy discussion group, Finance IFP Rescue VT53,000,000 the wake of an abortive no Simon Tiwok argued that Albert William Alfred Maoh Andrew Napuat John Sala Uri Warawara Fred Tasso Gillion William Edwin Macreveth List of Bills Don Ken Joshua Kalsakau Int. Organisation Mem- confidence motion late last the problem was simple Finance VT143,667,300 GJP GJP GJP GJP GJP GJP GJP GJP FMP Labour Labour berships year. arithmetic. Reduce the Anti Money Laundering Reforms: number of MPs by half, he Finance Parl Sec Ops VT5,000,000 Bill for Taxation Administration Cabinet posts have always said, and keep the number Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 Finance Parl Sec Payroll VT23,683,100 been political plums. And of cabinet posts the same, Bill for Value Added Tax Amendment for our sins, we’ve often and the moment you’ve Finance Scholarships VT274,500,000 (Act No.) of 2017 seen them apportioned filled out your council of Finance Team /Facilities VT350,970,000 not out of policy ministers, you’re pretty Bill for Business License Amendment Tomker Naling (Act No.) of 2017 Foreign Affairs Overseas Missions VT152,479,200 considerations, or even much guaranteed yourself Kalo Seule Toara Daniel Gracia Chadrack Jean-Pierre Nirua Jerome Ludvaune Seule Simeon Ephraim Kalsakau Hosea Nevu Marc Ati Netvunei Bill for Import Duties Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 Health Parl Sec Ops VT5,000,000 because of competency, a stable government. GC GC IND UMP UMP UMP UMP U Block RDP RDP but because of their Stamp Duties Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 Health Parl Sec Payroll VT23,683,100 ability to generate funds, A simple—even elegant— Bill for Proceeds of Crime Amendment Housing Adjustment influence and support for solution. But sadly, it’s also Act No. of 2017 Judiciary VT12,197,900 (GRT) the minister. politically impossible. These bills are part of a legislative reform package designed ultimately to get Vanuatu removed from the Judiciary Magistrates’ Rent VT2,500,000 But ratios can be changed Each minister has a FATF/OECD greylist. They will occupy nearly the entire Judiciary Payroll Adjustment (GRT) VT35,926,300 complement of staff, from either side. If you Marcellino Extraordinary session. Justice Cabinet Operations VT2,500,000 advisor, and support can’t reduce the number Barthelemy Marco Mahe Charlot Salwai Bruno Lengkone Francois Chani Silas Bule Ham Lini Samsen Samson positions that are filled of MPs, then the number RMC RMC RMC NUP NUP NUP NUP Land Reforms: VPP Justice Performance Coordinator VT2,654,800 out more or less at his of plums must rise. That Bill for Land Lease Acquisition Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 Lands Water Dept VT8,000,000 discretion. From cleaners, was the political calculus at Bill for Land Lease Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 gardeners and drivers least. Under Prime Minister PMO Parl Sec Ops VT20,000,000 Bill for Land Reform Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 upward to secretaries , the position PMO Parl Sec Payroll VT26,426,000 of Parliamentary Secretary Bill for Strata Title Amendment (Act No.) of 2017 and political advisors, the Public positions are often seen as was first created. It was Land reform bills are designed to address a number of Payroll Adjustment (GRT) VT17,210,400 Prosecutor useful only as a source of for all outward intents and Christopher hindrances and stumbling blocks the Ministry of Lands has income for key supporters. purposes a ministerial post: Ian Wilson Jerry Kanas Matai Seremaiah Jotham Napat Gaetan Pikioune Jacob Mata Jack Wona Emelee encountered in recent years concerning Public LPV LPV LPV LPV NAG NAG VNDP VNDP Sato Kilman PPO Extension VT20,000,000 remuneration, expenses, Prosecutor Supplementary Spending: PPP After every election, there staff and other perquisites State Law Offi ce Payroll Adjustment (GRT) VT45,848,200 are always one or two Bill for Appropriation Act No. of 2017 were largely similar. Trade/Tourism/ individuals who appear The government has announced over VT 1.7 billion in supplemen- Agri-tourism VT5,000,000 Coops only on paydays. Some A Pandora’s Box tary spending. See our feature inside for details. Trade/Tourism/ people have been rumoured around VT 58,000 per On the one hand: We’re especially overseas trips— consistently overspending Cabinet Operations VT2,000,000 to be using departmental People worried at the time fortnight with other spending VT 130 more this are a huge burden. hundreds of millions of Other Bills??? Coops resources according to their that this was the thin edge identified benefits, year than last just to hold vatu on this means that The government has announced that approximately Youth & Sport Parl Sec Ops VT5,000,000 Scholarships: an unwritten individual whim. One long- of the wedge. They said according to the Official the line. It’s sickening and we’re forced to curtail 10 other bills will be presented, but nobody we contacted agenda Youth & Sport Parl Sec Payroll VT23,683,100 running joke was that if a that creating Parliamentary Salaries (Amendment) disheartening to consider spending in other areas can say for certain what they are. that we’re effectively that would almost certainly Youth & Sport VAN2017 Operations VT149,030,000 particular individual was Secretary positions was Order No. 28 of 2017. Our entire political forced to bribe MPs to toe have a greater impact for found sitting at his desk opening a Pandora’s Box agenda is being warped by of expenses. They were “The Technical Advisor and the political line. the nation. Our retention and typing, a new letter to electoral considerations. the editor was guaranteed right. We went from one Assistant Senior Advisor rates, pass rates and On the other hand: It’s Scholarships, for example, to appear the next day. Parliamentary Secretary to are entitled to VT 52,000 repeat rates at the primary working. Mr Salwai is have been subjected to six in just a few short years. and around VT 40,000 and middle school levels entering Parliament with political pressure, and Constitutional bypass respectively, per fortnight are shockingly poor. The In February this year, the only 11 MPs occupying evidence exists that names quality of education that with other benefits But alas and alack, Daily Post reported that the the Opposition benches. were being inserted most people get is not followed by the Second the number of cabinet Parliamentary Secretary We haven’t seen numbers of family members of nearly adequate. Teachers Assistant Senior Advisor positions was subject to for Health, Gracia like this since ’s politically connected struggle to get through at around VT 33,000 with constitutional limitation. Shadrach, an independent ouster. individuals. Scholarship the year. Administration, The number of portfolios MP aligned with the Prime selected benefits.” budget allocations have facilities and learning cannot exceed 25% of Minister’s RMC group, On the other other hand: consistently been over- materials are all in The report added that a the number of seats. And was to have four advisors: That VT 130 million is run, sometimes by as much scandalously short supply. government spokesman barring a constitutional “Senior Advisor to the on top of the already as 100%. This session of “could not be reached amendment—which would Parliamentary Secretary considerable amount of Parliament will see yet And yet, without even a to shed light on the surely be met with public to the Prime Minister spending we’re devoting to another bump. Finance is moment of policy debate, scorn—that represents a responsible for Health, responsibilities of these political stability. There are planning to disburse an we’ve all tacitly agreed hard ceiling to the number a Technical Advisor, an advisors, prior press time”. already countless millions additional VT 274 million that a disturbingly small of posts that can be shared Assistant Senior Advisor going to ministerial in the second half of this number of people get to The arguments for about. and a Second Assistant hangers-on. Junkets and year. toddle off to Suva and and against the use of Senior Advisor. other fripperies run into the elsewhere to enjoy an The reason the number Parliamentary Secretary hundreds of millions when But scholarships are good, education that the majority was written into the “The Senior Advisor is positions are both they’re totted up together. aren’t they? Well, yes and of Ni Vanuatu never had a Constitution is clear: the entitled to a salary of compelling. Health care expenses— no. The fact that we’re chance to share.