6 Dec 2011

Vanuatu opposition urges president to challenge WTO

4:13 pm on 6 December 2011

The opposition in Vanuatu National Parliament is calling on the President, Iolu Johnson Abbil, to not sign the bill on the ratification of Vanuatu's accession to the World Trade Organization.

The office of the opposition says it has asked the president to challenge the constitutionality of the bill in Court.

Last week, during the debate on the bill, the opposition said it did not meet the requirements of international conventions being debated in parliament.

Under Parliament standing orders, a bill on the ratification of an international convention needs 10 days before it can be debated.