2 Aug 2005

Transparency International in Vanuatu wants all honorary consuls to be listed

3:31 pm on 2 August 2005

The Vanuatu branch of Transparency International is to urge the government to make sure all the country's honorary consuls have been properly appointed.

Vanuatu's Daily Post newspaper has highlighted an unauthorised web site seeking people to act on behalf of the government.

In the past, ombudsman's reports have accused politicians of receiving money and gifts in exchange for diplomatic passports.

The president of Transparency International in Vanuatu, Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson, says in the next week she will be asking the government for more information about the current honorary consuls.

"We are going to ask the government to list all its honorary consuls in the world, I think we need to know because we need to be certain they are playing their role. If we don't know them then we need to know them and ask the government on which ground they have granted this honorary consulship."

The president Transparency International in Vanuatu, Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson.

Following the newspaper reports the website now carries a message saying it has decided not to proceed with its search for people to represent the country abroad.