6 Jun 2019

Vanuatu Speaker appeals ruling on parliamentary secretaries

3:53 pm on 6 June 2019

Vanuatu's Speaker of Parliament Esmon Saimon, has appealed the Supreme Court ruling against the government bill to legalise the creation of the position of parliamentary secretaries.

The Vanuatu opposition boycotted parliament this morning forcing the speaker to suspend the sitting until Monday next week. 23 November 2018.

Photo: Hilaire Bule/ Vanuatu Government

The Head of State, President Obed Moses Tallis, had sought the legal clarification: he wanted to know if the creation of the parliamentary secretaries - as a second tier ministerial posts - needed a national referendum.

The Chief Justice, Vincent Lunabek, ruled the creation of the posts was unconstitutional without a national referendum.

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