8 May 2013

Cost of Vanuatu cabinet minister tour criticised by former PM

4:33 am on 8 May 2013

Vanuatu's former Prime Minister has expressed concern over the Council of Ministers meetings being staged in various provinces around the country.

The Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses Kalosil, has announced that his cabinet will embark on a tour of the provinces in a bid to better understand grassroots needs.

But Sato Kilman says there is no need for the government to send as many people, especially when Vanuatu is in a bad financial situation.

He has labelled the exercise an extravagant use of public money that could be spent on more important things.

"It was not budgeted for. Now, while it may be legal for directors-general to wire funds from other services to be able to cater for this meeting. It is morally wrong because that is not what the government requested Parliament's approval for."

Sato Kilman says he has nothing against the government going to the provinces, but holding entire cabinet meetings and paying for other people is over the top.