Revenge for Vanuatu govt as MP suspended

The Vanuatu government has used its numbers in parliament to suspend the MP, Gracia Shadrack, for two years. It's seen as an act of revenge by the Bob Loughman-led coalition government against the former Speaker who declared the seats of 19 members of the government vacant in June. Vanuatu Government MPs milling outside court Vanuatu Government MPs milling outside court Photo: RNZ Pacific/Hilaire Bule Shadrack's move was challenged in court, and following months of legal process the declaration was finally overruled as the 19 MPs won a Court of Appeal case on 28 October. A motion to suspend the MP was tabled in parliament today by the leader of government business and member of parliament for Efate constituency, Anatole Hymak, Hymak told parliament that Shadrack's ruling as Speaker on 8 June to declare the seat of the 19 government MPs, including Loughman, was biased and costly for the country in that much public money was wasted as a result of it. The motion to suspend Shadrack for two years won the support of 29 government MPs, while the 20 members of the opposition who were present voted against it. The leader of the opposition, Ralph Regenvanu, told parliament that the motion was in violation of parliament standing orders. He said under the current standing standing orders, parliament could only suspend a member of parliament for 2 days and not two years. Gracia Shadrack is sworn in as the speaker of the Vanuatu parliament. 18 April 2020Gracia Shadrack was sworn in as the speaker of the Vanuatu parliament. 18 April 2020, and was removed from the role a little over a year later. Photo: VBTC Livestream Outside parliament, Shadrack said that the suspension was against his constitutional rights, incidating he is going to file a legal challenge in court. Shadrack's 8 June declaration came after he found that the 19 MPs had missed three consecutive sitting days of parliament. Parliament is this week in its last ordinary session for 2021.