Vanuatu unhappy with UK over termination of visa-waiver status

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports Napat met with the British High Commissioner Nicolette Brent in Port Vila "to seek justifiable explanation on the decision".

Napat said the Vanuatu government had been actively working to bring in the necessary reforms to its citizenship program to meet requirements set by the European Union.

The UK is no longer in the EU. However, the EU Council last year also decided to remove Vanuatu's visa-free-access to EU countries, a decision that came into effect on February 4 this year.

"During the meeting, Napat expressed his profound dissatisfaction with the decision of the British government," the Daily Post reported.

"The decision to end the visa exemption to Vanuatu citizens will have great impact on Vanuatu's economic development and does not reflect the true spirit of friendship and partnership that binds the two countries together, prompting the Minister to question the UK's commitment to Vanuatu's development agenda," it added.

Foreign Minister Napat also expressed his concerns over having no opportunities for negotiation and dialogue between the two governments.

However, the UK Home Department secretary of state Suella Braverman said the decision to impose the visa requirement was not a sign of poor relations between the countries.

Braverman said careful consideration of Vanuatu's operation of a citizenship-by-investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK.

She said the decision to impose these visa requirements has been taken solely for migration and border security reasons, and it is not a sign of poor relations with these five countries.

The changes to the immigration rules came into effect from July 19 and there will be a grace period for those who already have travel bookings, made on or before the changes came into force, as long as they arrive no later than August 16.

The Vanuatu government will thoroughly examine the implications of the decision and formulate a comprehensive response.

"The implications of the UK government's decision will meticulously analysed, and appropriate measures will be taken to address this national issue in a way that safeguards the best and long-term interests of Vanuatu's citizens who are still recovering from the devastating impacts of the two cyclones this year," the Daily Post reported.


Football news:

<!DOCTYPE html>
Kane on Tuchel: A wonderful man, full of ideas. Thomas in person says what he thinks
Zarema about Kuziaev's 350,000 euros a year in Le Havre: Translate it into rubles - it's not that little. It is commendable that he left
Aleksandr Mostovoy on Wendel: Two months of walking around in the middle of nowhere and then coming back and dragging the team - that's top level
Sheffield United have bought Euro U21 champion Archer from Aston Villa for £18.5million
Alexander Medvedev on SKA: Without Gazprom, there would be no Zenit titles. There is a winning wave in the city. The next victory in the Gagarin Cup will be in the spring
Smolnikov ended his career at the age of 35. He became the Russian champion three times with Zenit

22:40 Polarising All Blacks boss Foster on verge of World Cup triumph
22:18 Boks forget Twickenham ahead of RWC final
21:36 Tropical Cyclone Lola: Houses destroyed, roads blocked, communications down
1:39 Britney Spears' book: The Woman in Me is an angry, cautionary tale
23:42 Flying Fijians retain winning team for Georgia
23:22 Vanuatu Supreme Court to rule on MP today
22:35 New Zealand edge Fiji at Oceania qualifiers for spot at 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
22:20 Italy have no fear of All Blacks
1:03 Shakira accused of tax crimes for the second time
0:01 All Blacks bolstered by return of injured players
23:55 Rugby World Cup: Deysel and Fifita handed bans for dangerous play
23:43 Passengers stranded by Air Vanuatu maintenance issue
2:06 Biden makes new pledges to Pacific island leaders
23:31 Vanuatu opposition files no-confidence motion against PM Sato Kilman
23:03 Under 10 penalties per game for Flying Fijians
22:34 Eddie Jones gets backing from his players, but not his country
1:22 Qantas' new CEO apologises for airline's recent scandals
1:13 Biden to host second summit with Pacific islands at White House
0:34 Eddie Jones’ Wallabies fall to record World Cup defeat against Wales
23:12 New York school bus crash: 'Faulty tyre' leaves two dead and five critically injured
21:31 Faletau returns to Wales starting XV
21:22 UK police officers admit sending racist messages about Meghan, royals
20:53 All Blacks agree: mouthwatering World Cup opener looms
0:08 Bula Boys beat in-form Solomons to reach Oceania Olympic final
22:59 Narawa out of World Cup as All Blacks make four changes
22:46 Injury shatters Muntz’s World Cup dream
1:35 Concerns over Samu Kerevi as Wallabies prepare for World Cup opener
0:26 Sean 'Diddy' Combs returns lucrative music rights to Bad Boy Records artists
0:08 TikTok opens Dublin data centre to ease China spying fears
21:23 Fiji records strong tourism sector performance in August
21:07 Fiji has tremendous threat: Monye
20:34 New Vanuatu PM wants to 'revisit' Australia security pact
23:41 More robust gambling harm reduction measures needed, support services say
23:06 Blazer from first-ever Pacific Games found and donated
3:00 Solomon Airlines inks partnership agreement with Air Vanuatu
0:25 Rankings peak 'changes nothing' for Raiwalui's Fiji at Rugby World Cup
0:27 Two Fijians to start for Japan
0:17 Silver Ferns ride luck into semi they prepared for months ago
23:32 Motion of no confidence filed against Vanuatu PM
0:54 Training of trainer to address sick children in communities
3:31 Flying Fijians Kick off World Cup Journey with Exclusive Visit to FIJI Water Plant
0:44 Lizzo dancers Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams: 'No one speaks out, they are scared'
22:52 Silver Ferns draw with spirited South Africa
21:08 Killers, fraudster among 12 convicts pardoned by Vanuatu president
22:49 Cardi B throws microphone into crowd at gig after being hit by drink
20:55 Kyiv warns Russia as Moscow skyscraper hit in second drone attack
20:48 US scrape into knockout stages of World Cup
20:21 Vanuatu leader hopeful of solution to island dispute with France
22:00 Pacific Oceania tennis teams' double success
20:16 Silver Ferns coach says her side can survive loss of star shooter
20:08 Australia blitz Canada to seal place in World Cup knockouts
21:41 At least 9 killed as firecrackers explode at warehouse in Thailand
21:08 Vanuatu descendants celebrate 43rd Independence Day
22:44 Evacuations as new blazes break out in Greece
21:36 Spain, Japan reach knockout stage, Canada win
21:23 Magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes east of Vanuatu
4:42 Lienert-Brown hungry for comeback after suspension for high hit
4:21 Health Messages during Fest’Napuan Music festival
1:17 Zuckerburg earns Jiu Jitsu blue belt in warning to Musk
0:14 Vanuatu traditional leaders call for Macron to address islands dispute
0:02 Dan Carter opens up on life after rugby, high pressure moments
22:45 LeBron James' eldest son Bronny stable after cardiac arrest
20:27 Indonesia to participate in Melanesian art festival MACFEST in Vanuatu
4:53 X marks the spot - Musk abolishes Twitter logo, name next
20:22 Senior Missionary passes away in Vanuatu
3:03 Vanuatu unhappy with UK over termination of visa-waiver status
22:07 NZ takes part as largest ever Australia-US joint military exercise gets underway
21:55 France held to draw by Jamaica
21:22 More than 350 people attend community sports awareness events in Vanuatu
0:04 Vanuatu loses visa-free access to UK
2:17 Flying Fijians names four debutants for Tonga clash
1:59 Deadly shooting in Auckland hours before Women's World Cup
22:26 Former All Black Kieran Read opens up about challenges in sport
21:29 Flying Fijians Coach Simon Raiwalui impressed with Ikale Tonga
4:13 Kerevi insists he's not the answer as Wallabies search for a new outside centre
23:31 China, New Zealand find common ground in scientific collaboration
22:15 Johnson to make late call on playing his 200th NRL game
2:46 Shein in talks with banks and exchanges about U.S. IPO
2:20 Adele serves a foul-mouthed warning to fans who throw stuff on stage
0:20 Wallaby Allan Alaalatoa ‘ready to go’ against South Africa
23:36 VFF withdraw Women’s Team from Friendly Fame
22:12 Cocaine found at White House sparked evacuation, US media report
22:02 World's hottest day since records began
3:16 Confusion at Twitter continues over Elon Musk's tweet limits
3:01 Blackpink make UK festival history with electrifying K-pop set in Hyde Park
23:27 Blues debut a family affair for Freddy's new enforcer Keaon
22:40 Finance Minister launched new URA website
21:44 July supermoon to appear brighter than usual in the sky this week
2:50 Gwen Stefani overjoyed with Hollywood Walk of Fame honour
2:15 Haas in doubt for Origin III, Graham won't make debut
1:00 Digicel Vanuatu & Telstra International deliver world-class cyber security to National Bank of Vanuatu
0:10 Kiwi Nathan Ross tapped to be one of King Charles' trusted advisors
23:50 France riots: Shot teenager's grandmother urges calm
23:08 Warning of more cyclones for parts of Pacific as El Niño threatens
21:28 Cotter named Blues head coach, O'Halloran to assist
20:40 Vanuatu beach volleyball targets Olympic Games 2024 spot
22:00 All Black Jack Goodhue says au revoir to NZ rugby
21:28 World Cup veteran wants to be on court when it matters most
0:36 Human remains thought to be found in Titan sub debris
23:27 ChatGPT owner OpenAI to open first foreign office in UK