''jiuf'./uftw fit' lantuf/fi of I a nua fu Parliament House , P.M.B. 9052 Telephone (678) 22229 Facsimile (678) 24530

PRESS RELEASE NO. 23

LEADER OF OPPOSITION

VANUATU GOVERNMENT IN BREACH OF COUNCIL CONTRACT 2017 MINI GAMES MAY BE SCRAPPED

Office blong Opposition ikat bigfala konsen long fasin we Gavmen ino stop honorem ol agreements blong hem. Wan agreement we Gavman mo Pacific games Council oli bin saenem Io 2nd December 2015 italemaut klia ol mani we Gavman isud putum towards Mini Games preparation we ischeduled for December 2017. Be kasem naoia Gavmam ino honerem agreement bio hem iven afta oli passem supplementary budget blong hem Io June 2016.

Kaunsel blong ol Minista (COM) Io miting bio hem long 24th March 2016 oli agree blong releasem Vtl 54,810,000 iko olsem first mo second phase towards preparation blong Mini Games. Be kasem tedei inokat wan payment ikam iet long Games Council isave wok long hem. Games Council ibin recruitem wan foreigner ikam olsem CEO blong Mini Games be kasem naoia hemi stop fundem own expense blong hem hem wan.

Office blong Opposition ino glad noting mo ikam wan bigfala konsen se from wanem iven afta COM imit long 10th March 2016 still ol bureaucrat insaet long ol offis blong gavman oli stop sleep wetem ol tingting ia? Ikat toktok naoia istap se sapos Gavman ino serious blong releasem mani ia kwik bae ikat possibility se Games Council isave tekem disisen blong kanselem Mini Games long December 2016 mo bae oli save black makem blong ino save bid long eni future Pacific Games long future.

Office blong Opposition istap mekem wekap koi iko long Gavman mo ol departments konsen blong mekem wok we oli sapos bio mekem. Wat taem bae

Parliament House, Port Vila — P M B. 052 — Telephone : (678) 22229 — Telecopie : (678) 24530 Ministry blong Finanace bae oli releasem Vtl 54,810,000 iko long account blong Pacific Games account?

Mi atajem kopi blong COM disisen dated 24th March 2016 mo host agreement blong 2017 .

DATED THIS 4th OCTOBER 2016

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Attached GOUVERNEMENT DE LA GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIQUE DE VANUATU REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

LA SECR^TAIRE-GEnERALE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Thursday 24 March 2016

Hon. Nato Talwia MP] Minister of Yon th development & Sport* Vanuatu Government

Dear Hon. Minister,

DECISION 20 OF 2016: Vanuatu to host the South Pacific Mini games in 2017

The 5th ordinary meeting of Council of Ministers (COM) met on Thursday 10 March 2016

Then, Council of Ministers approved above decision as follows, COM:

1) Agreed that Ministry of Finance commits 154,810,000 VT towards preparation of Pacific mini games and instructs there must be over sight by Finance

2) Agreed to the establishment of a Pacific mini games steering committee made up from these Ministries:

■C* Infrastructure & transport Task force — Ministry of Infrastructure & Public utilities

Finance & Customs Task force — Ministry of Finance & Economic management

♦ Venue and Catering Task force — Ministry of Education & Training

•O’ Security & Internal networks Tusk force — Ministry of Internal affairs

Protocols &. Foreign networks Task force- Ministry of Foreign affairs

❖ Marketing & Publicity Task force- Ministry of Tourism Sl Ni-Vanuatu business

•> Van 2017 Program task force - Ministry of Youth development & Sports

SPR 9053, Port Vila, Vanuatu — Telephone (678) 22413 — Faciimile: (678) 26301 — E-mail; [email protected]. vu

❖ Food & Markets task force - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Livestock

❖ Athletes welfare &. Testing Task force- Ministry of Heath

3) Agreed that Vanuatu re-aftirms and gives assurance that Vanuatu will host 2017 Mini games

4) Tasks Ministry of Finance to allocate funds following revised host agreement

Thank you

Nadine'Xty Secretary Variation to Host Agreement for the as executed on 4 September 2011

in accordance with Article 1.9 of the Host Agreement for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games, “the Host Government undertakes to support, facilitate and fully underwrite the financing of the staging and organisation of the Games*.

In the assessment of the Pacific Games Council, the Vanuatu Government is in default of its obligations and responsibilities under the Host Agreement for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

The Host Agreement was signed by the three parties in Noumea, on 4 September 2011. The parties to the Host Agreement are:

• Pacific Games Council (PGC) • Vanuatu Pacific Games Association (PGA) • Government of Vanuatu

The Host Agreement, and the bid document lodged by the Vanuatu PGA with letters of support from the Vanuatu Government and Opposition, is attached as Appendix 1.

Section 6 (Articles 1.19 - 125) of the Host Agreement provides fcjr variations to be made in agreement of the parties "for such changes that the Gomes will be organised in the best possible manner".

This variation to the Host Agreement seeks to bring the Government of Vanuatu into Immediate compliance to enable the 2017 Pacific Mini Games to be organised in Vanuatu.

The variation includes these numbered matters for Immediate resolution and agreement:

1. That in accordance with Article 1.9 of the Host Agreement - "the Host Government undertakes to support, facilitate and fully underwrite the financing of the staging and organisation of the Games' - the Pacific Mini Games Organising Committee be Immediately funded with its 2015 budgetary allocation of VATU 15,060,000 by 31 December 2015 to fadhtate the appointment of the CEO of the Pacific Mini Games Organising Committee by PGC who shall support the appointment with an immediate grant of US$20,000.

The agreed Schedule of financial drawdown to the Pacific Mini Games Organising Committee, based on the Games budget for 2014-2018 attached as Appendix 2, will be as follows:

a. 31 December 2015 - VATU 15,060,000 b. 31 March 2016 - VATU 139,750,000 c. 31 March 2017 - VATU 620,000,000

To facilitate these payments, the Government of Vanuatu will provide the schedule of fum through the national budget process or through alternate financial mechanisms. s_ 2. That the granting of full legal status of the existing 2017 Pacific Mini Games delivery organs the Pacific Mini Games Organising Committee and the Pacific Mini Games Authority "with • necessary legal status and powers" under Section 2 (Article 1.6.3) of the Host Agreement will be given effect by legislation to be submitted for parliamentary approval by the ne Parliament. The agreed format of legislation (BILL FOR THE VANUATU 2017 PACIFIC Mir GAMES AUTHORITY ACT NO. OF 2015) is attached as Appendix 3.

3. That in accordance with Article 1.14 and 1.15 of the Host Agreement, by Ministeria discretion or Cabinet regulation as appropriate, all necessary waivers for VAT, Customs dub and any other applicable taxes be immediately waived for ail 2017 Pacific Mini Game: suppliers and commercial partners. The format of legislation to support the regulatory decisions by Cabinet or by Ministerial discretion (BILL FOR THE VALUE ADDED TAX (AMENDMENT) ACT NO. OF 2015) is attached as Appendix 4 and shall be submitted for parliamentary approval by the new Parliament

4. The contractual arrangements between the Government of Vanuatu and the Peoples Republic of China for the provision of Games venues and equipment, including the redevelopment of the Korman Stadium site, are made available to PGC immediately to provide satisfaction that the Pacific Mini Games facilities will be compliant with the requirements of the PGC under the Host Agreement and be completed on time for the successful staging of the Games as is Government's responsibility under Article 1.14 of the Host Agreement - "The Host Government shall be responsible for the provision of all sporting facilities and venues required to host a successful Pacific Mini Games".

5. The Government of Vanuatu will provide PGC by 31 March 2016 with a schedule of delivery of all other new facilities and the upgrade and refurbishment of existing facilities, including the Athletes' Village, to be used for the successful staging of the Games as is Government's responsibility under Article 1.14 of the Host Agreement - "The Host Government shall be responsible for the provision of all sporting facilities and venues required to host a successful Pacific Mini Games" 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

6. The Government of Vanuatu will present its plan for the successful delivery of the 2017 Pacific Mini Games to the full memberships of the National Olympic Committees and the Pacific Games Council, whose respective General Assemblies will be held in Port Vila from 7-13 May 2016.

Following presentation of this proposed variation to the lawyers of the parties, a final version will be presented by PGC to the parties on Friday 18 December 2015 to be formally executed by the parties no later than later than 31 December 2015. A joint media release confirming the Pacific Mini Games to be held in Vanuatu from 2-14 December 2017 will be published by the parties in January 2016.

/

/Vidhya Laichan President Pacific Games Council Vanuatu PGA