Yearbook 2010
Vanuatu. According to
COUNTRYAAH, a report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
in February showed that Vanuatu was one of the Pacific
region's fastest growing economies. Growth was estimated at
4 percent in 2009, which was the seventh consecutive year of
positive growth. In 2010, growth was expected to increase to
4.5 percent, thanks to increased revenue in the construction
industry and the tourism sector. Aid is another important
source of income for the country.
Vanuatu investigating judge, Nevin Dawson, was
temporarily forced to leave the country in March after he
and his family were threatened to death by a member of
Vanuatu's semi-military police force Vanuatu Mobile Force
(VMF). New Zealander Dawson had a two-year order as
investigating judge in Vanuatu's highest court. In an
investigation into the death of a prisoner, Dawson had
revealed a culture of violence and brutality within the VMF,
which he said was sanctioned by the highest level of police
management. Dawson expressed strong criticism of the police
force and also said it was elitist and did not respect the
laws. The death threat caused the government and MP Ralph
Regenvanu to demand that Australia's financial support for
the VMF be withdrawn immediately. According to Regenvanu,
the culture of violence within the security police was well
known before,
Prime Minister Edward Natapei was forced out of his post
on December 2 following a vote of no confidence in
Parliament that was conducted while abroad. Natapei had
traveled just hours before the vote and was on his way to
the UN Climate Conference in Cancun, Mexico. Before leaving,
Natapei had tried to exclude five MPs who were preparing for
the vote. Natapei was elected prime minister in 2008, but
temporarily lost his post in the fall of 2009 when he was
expelled from parliament when he was abroad. During his more
than two years as prime minister, he also survived a series
of distrustful votes. Natapei was replaced by Deputy Prime
Minister Sato Kilman, who immediately formed a new
government.
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