The newly elected Prime Minister (PM) of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, has appointed four Members of Parliament (MPs) from his constituency as state ministers, holding key portfolios in his cabinet.
PM Napat was elected in parliament with 50 votes and two void votes and was the only nominee for this high position in the 14th Legislature.
As President of the Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV), PM Napat, with nine other MPs and three political movements, brings a total of 12 elected MPs. The coalition between Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP), Vanua’aku Pati (VP), Reunification Movement for Change (RMC), and Iauko Group (IG) resulted in a total of 39 MPs on his side, according to the seating arrangement in the parliament chamber yesterday.
The other group, on the left side of the House, with only 13 MPs, did not have any nominees for the position of PM or for the position of Speaker of Parliament and its deputies.
Parliament also elected the Speaker of Parliament, Stephen Felix, unchallenged, and Senior Member Ralph Regenvanu conducted the Speaker’s election, according to the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Parliament also elected four Deputy Speakers (DS) unchallenged: First DS John William Timakata from Shepherds Outer Islands (VP), Second DS Marcellino Barthelemy of Malekula (RMC), Third DS Paul Paolo from Malekula (GJP), and Fourth DS Camillo Ati from Santo (IG).
Once Parliament concluded its business, the executive, led by the newly elected Prime Minister, appointed its cabinet.
The four Tanna MPs appointed as ministers are: Johnny Koanapo (VP) as Deputy PM and Minister of Finance, Simil Johnson (VP) as Minister of Education, Andrew Napuat (GJP) as Minister of Internal Affairs, and Harry Xavier Emmanuel (IG) as Minister of Infrastructure. Together with PM Napat, this brings the total to five Tanna MPs holding key ministerial portfolios in the 14th Legislature.
PM Napat also appointed Job Sam Andy (LPV) as Minister of Justice, John Still Tari Qetu (IG) as Minister of Health, Rick Tchamako Mahe (RMC) as Minister of Lands, Ian Wilson (Ngwasoanda Custom Movement/LPV) as Minister of Agriculture, Samson Samsen (VP) as Minister of Trade and Commerce, Marc Ati (IG) as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Regenvanu (GJP) as Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, and Jack Norris Kalmet (RMC) as Minister responsible for the new Ministry of Ocean, Fisheries, and Maritime.
According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, after the election of the PM comes the appointment of parliamentary committee members, but this was not mentioned in the parliamentary summons.
As such, Speaker Felix has adjourned parliament to Friday this week at 8:30am to allow time for the government side and the opposition to nominate their MPs for the position of Chairman of Parliamentary Committees and its members.
PM Napat asked all the people of Vanuatu to trust this government and promised that all of his cabinet ministers would perform to the highest standard and deliver results for the people. All work must be aligned with, and meet, the goals of the National Sustainable Development Plan.
