Current Vanuatu prime minister Israel Kalsakau, left, with former PM Charlot Salwai Photo: Hilaire Bule
Two of Vanuatu's key political leaders have reconciled with the Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau and the former prime minister Charlot Salwai meeting on Pentecost island.
Kalsakau leads the Union of Moderate Parties while Salwai, who is the Pentecost MP, is the leader of the Reunification of Movement for Change.
Both parties are part of the ruling coalition.
The Prime Minister said there is a need for unity and that is why the parties have decided to work as one.
The political differences between the two leaders date back to 2020 when Kalsakau accused Salwai of perjury, claiming he had misled the country over the appointment of parliamentary secretaries in 2016.
Salwai was convicted of perjury and given a two-year suspended sentence, which was later lifted by a presidential pardon.
The prime minister apologised to the people of Pentecost for leaving them without parliamentary representation for a number of months.
Salwai won the Pentecost by-election held after his pardon.
RSE workers absconding claim
Kalsakau has discussed with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese the issue of Vanuatu's growing number of seasonal workers "absconding".
More that 1000 seasonal workers from Vanuatu are reported to have absconded under Australia's Seasonal Work Programme.
The Daily Post reports Kalsakau has asked the Australian Government to revisit the programme to find out what the issues are that prompt them to go underground.
One complaint is that some farmers do not honour the contracts they have signed, especially over wages.
The newspaper says Canberra has agreed to revisit the programme "to consider the welfare of ni-Vanuatu workers".
