23 Jun 2003

Vanuatu Opposition angry that Government disallowed protest

5:26 pm on 23 June 2003

The Opposition in Vanuatu says the Government was wrong to deny members of the National Provident Fund their right to protest planned changes to the Fund.

Opposition leader Willie Jimmy says the Government intended amending the Fund to allow it borrow from it and to ensure most of the money was invested in Vanuatu rather that overseas.

He says because of opposition to that proposal the Government withdrew the bill last Thursday but on the same day it stopped members of the Fund holding a protest march.

"Our constitution provides freedom of expression like that and that's the only way the public can show whether they agree or disagree with the Government"