12 Feb 2014

Manager of Vanuatu passport sales justifies fee payments

3:36 pm on 12 February 2014

The man in charge of selling Vanuatu passports to foreigners denies a claim that most of the money will not come back to the country.

John Stevens Tougon, from the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission, denies the claim by Port Vila MP Willie Jimmy that only 25 percent of the funds will return to the government, and that his appointment was done behind closed doors.

Mr Tougon says his appointment was above board and he has been managing the permanent residence programme in Hong Kong successfully.

He says all of the funds will return, apart from a 20,000 US dollar fee for the Hong Kong- based agent.

"They have to be entitled to their fee, they've got an office to run, people to pay and stationeries and stuff, and due diligence and who knows, many more things to do. And I will deal with them to make sure they do their work and I am sure they would like their fee."

John Stevens Tougon says from the balance of the 300,000 US-dollar fee, another 20,000 US dollars will be paid to the government, and the rest will be invested on the applicant's behalf for seven years.