Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu President agrees with chiefs on need for higher fee

15:04 pm on 5 March 2018

Vanuatu's head of state and the president of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs have agreed on a constitutional change to increase the fee paid to chiefs.

Chief Tirsupe (left) and Vanuatu Head of State, Tallis Obed Moses (right) meet in Malvatumauri office. Photo: Len Garae

This comes after a rare meeting between the President Tallis Obed Moses and Chief Mol Torvaka Lima Tirsupe at the the Malvatumauri office.

Chief Tirsupe said chiefs play a prominent role in promoting peace and unity in times of peril, but they get 250-thousand (approx US$2300) Vatu severance pay compared to the 5-million Vatu (US$45,700) paid to members of parliament after four years in office.

The president and Chief Tirsupe have agreed there is a discrepancy there and that the Government has to correct it.