Vanuatu's prime minister 'accidentally stripped of job title'
01/12/2009
Edward Natapei, the prime minister of Vanuatu, lost his position in parliament due to a paperwork mistake, it has emerged.
The politician missed three consecutive Commonwealth summit sittings without submitting a written explanation of why this was which, under the country's law, means that he must forfeit his role.
Now the country faces a by-election, as a vote will be held next week with the aim of reinstating the prime minister.
In the meanwhile, a standby figure will occupy Mr Natapei's role.
The former prime minister was required to notify the parliamentary speaker at the summit in Trinidad and Tobago of his absence, but failed to do so.
In other Vanuatu news, the Vatican announced the appointment of Father John Bosco Baremes as the country's new Catholic leader and representative last week.
He originally hails from the Cataret Islands and has previously occupied posts in both Fiji and New Caledonia.
Written by Simon Bassett
