By Adorina Massing.

Sapos tufala amendmen ia bae save afektem raet blong wan Memba blong Palamen o blong wan sitisen hemi olgeta kwesten we pablik i resem long taem blong VBTC Pres Klab long wik ia.  

Vanuatu Attorney General, Arnold Kiel Loughman hemi rispon se tufala amendmen blong atikol 17A mo 17B bae ino afektem fridom blong muvmen blong wan MP, be hemi moa long saed blong fridom blong expresen.

“Wan Memba of Palamen hemi kat raet blong expresem opinion blem long wan Praem Minista tru long vot blem, hemia emi fridom of expresen,” hemi talem.

Mr Loughman hemi explenem long pablik tu se long saed blong wan individual raet, bae Nasonal Referendum ia i no afektem fridom mo raet blong wan sisiten olsem we fulap man naoia oli stap pointem aot long atikol 5 blong Constitusen.

Atikol 5 long Constitusen hemi tokbaot hao evriwan i mas tingting hevi mo respektem ol stamba raet mo fridom blong wanwan man mo woman long kauntri.

Attorney General hemi rispon se fridom blong expresen hemi wan stamba raet tu we i stap insaed long Atikol 5 (1) (G) long Constitusen blong Vanuatu.

“I semak taem yu kolo voting long Eleksen mo yu stap vot, yu stap expressem opinion blong yu long ol candidates afta yu stap vot.

“Taem yu vot yumi no talem se yu stap exercisem freedom of movement, NO, yu stap exercisem freedom of expression blong yu.”

Minista risponsibol blong Eleksen, Hon. Johnny Koanapo hemi talem se Referendum ia bae ino afektem individual raet blong wan man be hemi blong olgeta Memba blong Palamen nomo.

Minista hemi givim comment ia long taem we Elektrol Ofis mo Elektrol Komisen oli stap givim awenes blong Nasonal Referendum long ol Memba blong Palamen long las manis.

“Samfala oli tinkse bae oli tokbaot atikol 5 we hemi to do wetem ol raets blong ol individuals, this has nothing to do with individual raets insaed long Constitusen,” Hemi talem.

“This has got to do with atikol 17 be hemi to do with eleksen blong Memba blong Palamen we ikam insaed.”

Minista hemi talem se amendmen 17B hemi lukluk moa wetem eleksen blong Memba of Palamen we oli kam insaed as independent candidate or kastom movements.

“And then mifala agri se letem hemia emi limitim raet blong mifala long Palamen, be bae hemi no tajem raets blong ol sitisen blong kauntri long atikol 5.

“Ino tajem raets blong olgeta be hemi tajem ol raets blong ol MP insaed long Palamen.”

Minista Koanapo hemi talem se hemi blong mekem sua se yumi givim benefit ia long process blong Democracy blong hemi happen.

“Bae process ia bae no stopem yumi blong jenjem Kavman, be if you feel you want to change the Government long taem blem, you do it tru long politikol pati.”

By Adorina Massing.

Civil Society Representatif, Relvie Poilapa hemi talem tedei long VBTC Pres Klab se inogat development long ol aelan blong yumi from nomo se Kavman i wokem jenis tumas.

Mrs Poilapa hemi talem se sapos yumi lukim sam aelan tedei ikat sam we oli develop gud, sam i slo mo sam oli nogat nomo.

Hemi tokbaot tu se long saed blong Kavman seves long ol aelaen we fulap man oli nosave kat access lem, hemi wan bigfala jalenj long kauntri.

“Yumi luk se ol pipol oli struggle blong kat access o opportunity blong oli save kasem gud ol different kaen seves ia,” hemi talem.

“Ol jalenj wetem ol minority grup, yu we yu abled body yu fesem had taem finis blong kat access, be tingbaot yu we yu kat wan disability o sapos yu wan pikinini yu mas wokbaot 3 hawa jes blong yu kambak long skul mo kat wan gudfala edukesen.

“Wan mama we hemi traem best blem blong save ko bonem gud bebe blem be from helt fasiliti hemi longweh o access blong kasem hel fasiliti ia inogat and might hemi mas bonem bebe long haf rod.

“Hemia emi ol real isu we kauntri blong yumi hemi fesem longtaem finis ikam but hemi ol samting we taem Kavman i continue blong unstable mo oli nosave stap kwet blong mekem gud wok blem, bae yumi continue blong luk ol struggle ia.”

Mrs Poilapa hemi tok moa se taem wan grup blong civil society oli bin mekem petisen wetem ova 5000 signatures blong karem kolo Palamen, oli talem lo Kavman blong stat wok tugeta blong development hemi save gohed.

“From yumi wantem luk wan Vanuatu we hemi strong blong ol pikinini blong yumi mo blong futja blong yumi, yumi no continue blong go around olsem, 43 years nao, hemi taem blong yumi stap lukluk long ol changes we oli givhan.”

By Adorina Massing.

Minista blong Intenol Afeas, Hon. Johnny Koanapo hemi talem se bae hemi muvum deit blong Vota Registresen i ko kasm dei blong vot long Mei namba 29.

MP Koanapo we hemi Minista risponsol blong Referendum hemi konfem toktok ia yestedei long VBTC Tok Stret show.

“Hemi blong mekem sua se pipol oli effectively partisipet long Referendum,” hemi talem.

Registresen blong ol vota istap hapen evri yia mo igat deit blong klos we hemi 6 wik bifo long polling dei o dei blong vot.

Long yia ia, Vanuatu Elektrol Ofis hemi putum aot klosing deit blong vota registresen long Aprel namba 17, be Kavman hemi stap lukluk blong mekem sam jenis blong deit blong givim moa janis long plante pipol oli save kam regista mo vot.  

Minista risponsibol hemi talem se i impoten blong alowem pipol i regista blong save exercisem raet blong olgeta long Mei namba 29.

“Mi stap tekem decisen se bae cut off deit blong registresen ia hemi ko kolosap long taem blong voting blong givim maximum opportunity,” hemi talem.

“Yumi wantem mekem tu se yumi no dragem tumas pipol be yumi mekem tu ol polling stesen ia iko kolosap long ol vilej lo ole ria we mekem se ol pipol oli save kam kolosap lem.”

Minista i bin konfem tu long Palamen las manis se bae kat wan Legislation Oda (Regulation Oda) we bae Atoney Jenerol hemi writem olsem wan guide blong Elektrol Ofis mo Nasonal Committee blong helpem vot process blong Referendum.

Elektrol Komisen oli talem se Regulation Oda ia hemi blong mekem sua se process blong vot mo kampen hemi sef mo oli givim aot klia aweness long ol pipol long diferen eria konstituensi.

Minista Koanapo hemi talem se bae kat regulesen hemi kam “blong yumi saenem blong mekem sua se yumi kat wan effective patisipesen blong pipol blong Referendum.”

Hemi tok moa se ol safeguard ia oli stap insaed long Constitusen mo insaed long Law wetem sam long ol management consideration we oli stap tekem naoia.

“Yumi kat ol safeguard ia blong protektem integrity blong referendum mo effectiveness blem.”

By Adorina Massing.

Prinsipol Administrator blong Vanuatu Nasonal Yut Council, Joe Kalo hemi serem tingting blem tudei long sesen blong VBTC Press Klab se ol yangfala oli mas vot tu long Nasonal Referendum.

“Sapos yumi luk ol majoriti blong ol vot hemi ol yangfala even though fulap oli no vot,” hemi talem.

“Mifala stap mekem wok wetem olgeta long elektrol komisen blong enkarejem plante yangfala blong oli mas vot tru long ol eria counsels, tru long ol provins mo tru long municipal.”

Mr Kalo hemi talem se bifo kasem naoia, ol yut oli wokem ple wan bigfala pat long wokbaot mo faet blong Independence blong kauntri.

“Taem yumi wantem stap setem ap Provinsol Kavman long 1997 – 1999, ol foma colonists oli talem se bae voting age hemi stat long 40 kasem antap.

“Olgeta we stap struggle from Independence, ol olfala blong yumi oli talem se bae oli bycottem eleksen ia mo wan long ol kondisen blong olgeta se bae oli muvum age iko daon kolo 18.”

Hemi tok moa se ol jenjes ia i alaowem mo soem se ol yangfala oli ple wan bigfala pat blong winim independence blong yumi long beginning i kam.

“And then i kat ol riot we plante yangfala oli tek pat lem from se oli feel se nation hemi blong olgeta mo taem wan samting ino wok aot oli mas react long wanem we istap.”

Mr Kalo hemi se ol yangfala oli protes plante bifo mo oli wantem se Vanuatu imas kat wan own Ministri blong Yut, afta long 2003, Kavman hemi setem ap Ministri blong Yut long Vanuatu.

“Ol yut oli wantem wan own council blong olgeta mo wan Act blong olgeta we outlinem wanem nao Kavman bae mekem blong sapotem ol yangfala.”

Hemi talem se ol yangfala oli rere mo oli nowantem luk instability istap happen long Palamen mo oli talem se yumi mas mekem wan samting, “that’s why ikat Red Muvmen we plante yangfala i involve insaed mo hemi sajestem se yumi mas kat wan referendum blong save jenjem wan Constitution.”

Mr Kalo hemi talem se ating bae wan referendmum bae no solvem problem be at least yumi stap mekem wan muv iko kolosap long stability.

“Long plante kampen ikat fulap reactions ikam se bae ol yangfala oli mas respektem ol olfala but respek ia hemi ko both ways so that’s why ol yangfala oli feel se oli mas voicem ol konsens blong olgeta.”

Hemi tok moa se long bifo Independence, kauntri no produsem ol lawyers, ol economists mo fulap oli no skul gud be naoia ikat plante yangfala we oli skul gud.

“So hao nao yumi save gatherem evriwan, putum olgeta kam tugeta blong yumi save lukluk long fujta se oli wantem kauntri blong olgeta hemi turn aot olsem wanem.”

By Adorina Massing.

Voes blong Yumi’ komiti hemi pledgem full sapot blo vot YES blong Nasonal Referendum wetem eim blong karem bak stabiliti long kauntri.

Hed blong Voes blong Yumi, Mike Esrom hemi talem se folem tumas confusen long pablik, ol pipol mas save se long referendum blong yia ia 2024 hemi taem blong yu vot blong stopem instabiliti, be long 2026 long nekis eleksen hemi taem blong yu vot ol niu lida we yu save trastem.

“Kat wan janis ia nomo blong oli save harem voes blong yu mo hemia emi taem we yu vot,” hemi talem.

“Mo sapos i mekem wan difrens o no be bae dipen long sistem blong demokrasi we yumi stap lem naoia.”

Mr Esrom hemi talem se yumi mas luk save opotuniti we i stap blong vot YES o NO long wan fes eva referendum blong kauntri.

Hemi tokbaot moa se opotuniti ia hemi blong jenisim Mother Law we istap wetem stamba tingting blong stopem rabis muvmen blong wan pati memba, we hemi mein kos blong instabiliti long Palamen.

“Long las yia nomo yumi kat 3 Praem Minista within smol manis nomo mo i minim se yumi pulum isu ia iko tumas mo fulap man oli taet.”

Referendum hemi blong stopem ol MP blong ple chess long palamen floa

Mr Esrom hemi talem se bae i kobak long vot blong yu wan olsem wan sitisen long taem blong wan jenerol eksen blong kauntri.

Hemi wantem mekem klia tu se bae hemi no toktok long behaf blong Kavman o blong pipol, be hemi wantem tok stret nomo se sapos yu votem wan lida long pas eleksen we hemi kat signature o hemi lidim olgeta mosen blong las yia, yu mas tingting gud long vot blong yu wan long nekis eleksen.

“Taem yu vot long olgeta, oli ko mekem rong disisen antap long red ruf, be afta yu nomo yu vot from olgeta bagegen,” hemi talem.

“I nogat eni logik o tingting long aksen blong yu mo yu no nid blong komplen tudei from rabis muvmen blong ol MP long Palamen.”

Hemi ansarem tu ol kwesten long saed blong wan wan raet blong wan sitisen mo hao bae oli save jusum own vot blong olgeta.

“Tufala amendmen ia i nogat wan samting blong mekem wetem raets blong wan sitisen be oli direktem kolo ol Memba blong Palamen nomo mo ino afektem raet blong yu o blong olgeta tu.”

Hed blong Voes blong Yumi hemi tok moa se yumi mas rekonisem raet blong yumi tu mo wanem role nao yumi pleyem long kauntri ia.

“Olsem wan Memba blo Palamen yu kat wan mandate mo sapos yu no stap folem mandate ia be bae mas kat sam aksen i set ap blong mekem sua se yu stap mekem gud wok blong yu mo no kolo Palamen blong jamjam nomo.

“Olsem wan sitisen, yu mas andastan risponsibiliti blong yu blong vot be hemi no blong talem long ol MP blong hao oli mas kam wan lida, hemia hemi no risponsibiliti blong yu.

“Hemi semak long olgeta paliamentariens, yu enta wan eleksen blong no kam wan Minista o Praem Minista, yu enta wan eleksen blong kam wan Memba blong Palamen blong pasem ol legislasen blong mekem sua kauntri hemi stap ko long stret rod blong developmen.

“Stik long pati blong yu mo mas act stret mo mekem ol polisi we yu promotem long kampen blong yu, yu traem achievem ol goal blong yu mo stop traem blong ple chess long Palament floa.”

Ol amendmen ia hemi ol fes step blong stopm instabliti long kauntri

Mr Esrom hemi tok moa se i kat fulap risen blong instabiliti long Palamen be hemia hemi wan long olgeta fes step we ol sitisen save tekem.

“Mi mas pointem aot se yumi mas stat sloslo long wan ples, sosno bae yumi stap komplen nomo, hemi no only o final solusen be hemi wan wei fowod blong fixim problem ia.”

Hemi tok moa se fulap man oli stap kat konsen blong vot NO be i nogat wan logikol explenesen from disisen blong olgeta.

“Fulap we oli ko from NO oli loud tumas be oli nosave kam fowod blong talem from wanem, hemi ol personal propaganda o oli stap kam olsem wan propaganda theorist (wan man we toktok be nogat pruf).

“Spos yu wantem enta long debet ia, yu mas kat facts o pruf sosno yu stap toktok wetem emotions o bel blong yu nomo.”

Mr Esrom hemi talem se olgeta oli 100% sua se taem wan i vot YES bae i katem daon janis blong kauntri i fesem instabiliti long Palamen.

Hemi talem tu se ol pipol we oli unbiased o no mas tekem saed bae hemi Elektrol Ofis mo Elektrol Komisen nomo, wetem olgeta Media kampani.

Badjet blong referendum hemi moa smol bitim total kost blong instabiliti

I kat sam konsen se mane blong referendum hemi hae tumas mo Mr Esrom hemi rispon se sapos yumi komperem kost blong ol palamen siting we wokm jenis bae moa bigwan bitim bajet blong referendum long yia ia.

“Amaon blong VT350 milien ia hemi blong kontrolem hao olgeta MP oli stap act insaed long red ruf,” hemi talem.

“Be yumi mas no forget se fulap mane i bin lus long tumas jenis long lidasip blong wan pati long Palamen, mo kost blong instabiliti long las yia hemi bigwan tumas.”

Insaed long Bill blong Palamen we i bin pas long yia 2017, hemi talem se alaowens o mane blong ol MP wetem Spika mo Praem Minista long wan Palamen siting hemi VT7,500 long wan dei.

Wetem 52 MPs bae total kost blong wan dei blong siting hemi raon VT390,000.

Mo long las yia, wetem niu Parliament Members Expenses and Allowances Amendment Act No. of 2023, we Praem Minista long taem ia, Hon. Ishmael Kalsakau hemi tablem blong inkrisim alokesen mane blong wan wan konstituensi kolo VT5 milien.

Insaed long Memba blong Palamen Entilement’s Posta we Palamen, Transperency International Vanuatu (VIT) mo Right to Information (RIT) hemi putum aot long yia 2020 i soem hamas mane wan MP hemi stap tekem.

Infomesen hemi soem se wan MP hemi kat VT5,989,600 alaowens wetem VT1,605,000 we hemi total iko long VT7,594,600 long wan yia.

Evri pay dei bae ol MP oli kat VT292,200 we hemi pat long VT7 milien blong wan yia.

I kat ripot tu long wan sos insaed long Palamen se bae posibol nomo long las yia wetem fulap MP oli wokem krosem floa mo Kavman wokem jenis, ol siting alaowens mo konstituensi alaowensi, mo ol camps i lukim wan total kost blong VT1.5 bilien, be hemi wan estimated figure from nomo se ikat effect blong instabiliti istap yet mo bae yumi nosave stret amaon blong kost ia.

Mr Esrom hemi komen nomo se wetem “kost blong referendum badjet blong VT350 milien spos yumi komperem wetem kost blong instabiliti blong las yia, hemi smol tumas.”

Wok blong ‘Voes blong Yumi’ long taem blong referendum kampen

Komiti blong Voes blong yumi hemi mekem semak wok olsem Nasonal Referendum komiti we Kavman hemi setem ap blong mekem ol awenes kampen kolo ol pipol.

Eim blong olgeta hemi blong tijim ol sitisen blong save from wanem nao oli mas vot YES long referendum, mo blong mekem se bae Palamen hemi amendem ol niu law blong 17A mo 17B iko long konstitusen blong yumi.

Mr Esrom hemi tokbaot samfala mein point blong sapotem YES kampen ia we hemi:

1. Palamen blong Vanuatu anonymously hemi vot YES blong wan Nasonal Referendum
2. Kavman hemi apruv VT350 milien blong pas from referendum blong mekem wan jenjs
3. Vot YES bae helpem Kavman hemi dil wetem stabiliti
4. Vot YES bae givim bak respect mo integriti kolo nation
5. Vot YES bae helpem stabiliti mo wetem development we kauntri i nidim blong gro
6. Vot YES bae protektem raet blong evri pikinini mo olgeta vulnerable grup tudei mo blong futja

Voes blong Yumi wetem ol patnas blem oli bin mekem fes wok blong olgeta long Nguna mo Pele aelan taem oli folem Minista blong Intenol Afeas, Hon. Johnny Koanapo wetem awenes kampen blong referendum.

Tim oli stap redi blong karemaot ol awenes mo ikat nara pat blong grup tu we oli folem Minista blong Intenol Afeas long taem blong awenes kampen long aelan blong Malekula mo Santo.

Wetem 32 memba long komunikesen tim blong Voes blong Yumi mo wetem patnasip blong Social Media Asosiasen blong Vanuatu, Nabanga grup mo sam nara social media platfom we oli joen tu.

Mr Esrom hemi talem se Kavman oli no apruvum wan badjet blong Social Media Federesen tim ia wetem Voes blong Yumi komiti be oli stap wok fri nomo wetem own spending blong olgeta blong karemaot wok.

“Weta Kavman hemi rilisim kost blong helpem mifala o no, mifala hapi blong sevem pipol