Vanuatu's government must rethink its treatment of Daily Post media director Dan McGarry, says the Pacific Islands News Association.
The media director of Vanuatu's Daily Post newspaper, Dan McGarry. Photo: Facebook / Dan McGarry
Mr McGarry, who is Canadian but had lived in Vanuatu for many years, had his request for a renewed work permit turned down earlier this month.
He left the country while he appealed the decision but was then denied re-entry to Vanuatu on a visitor's visa.
The association's president, Kora Nou, said the Vanuatu Government should rethink the stance it had taken on Mr McGarry.
He said it was not only a threat to media freedom and the freedom of expression but a threat to democracy and good governance.
Vanuatu officials have denied the rejection is political, saying the Daily Post must be headed by a ni-Vanuatu under local law.
However, Mr Nou said the government's action contravened the UN charter on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
It also contravened the sustainable development goals' requirements for governments to ensure public access to information, and protection of fundamental freedom.
Nr Nou said both the government and media had their rightful places in a democratic society and he hoped the government would do the right thing by its people and reverse the decision.