19 Dec 2013

Deputy Vanuatu PM relieved not named in inquiry report

3:05 pm on 19 December 2013

The deputy prime minister of Vanuatu says he is happy his and the prime minister's names are not in a commission of inquiry report that looked into the sale of diplomatic passports.

Edward Natapei says just one MP in the government coalition is mentioned in the report.

Mr Natapei told local media that three MPs from the opposition side have been alleged by the commission to have sold Vanuatu passports.

He says he and prime minister Moana Carcasses are not on the list and that confirms that any allegations against them are baseless.

The secretary of the Citizenship Commission, John Enock Ware, says the report has to be submitted to the Council of Ministers before it can be made public.