3 Dec 2010

Vanuatu media disappointed over unprecedented ban from parliament

1:01 pm on 3 December 2010

Vanuatu's media industry is reeling from a ban on coverage of yesterday's parliamentary session which saw the ousting of the Prime Minister Edward Natapei.

Media were banned from attending parliament while the motion of no-confidence was voted on.

The ban came from a directive by the Speaker George Wells who is now the Foreign Minister in a new-look government.

Our correspondent Len Garae says it's the first time in Vanuatu's history that the media and the public have not been allowed follow the debate of a motion of no confidence and the election of a new prime minister.

"We were very disappointed because this had never happened before. We're still looking for a reason as to why we were not allowed in. We have a duty to inform the people of what's happening in the political life of this country. That is why people throughout the country are calling, they're asking questions and some of the questions, we cannot answer because we were not allowed in to parliament yesterday."

Len Garae