Vanuatu

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Vanuatu

(vän'wäto͞o`), officially Republic of Vanuatu, independent republic (2015 est. pop. 265,000), c.5,700 sq mi (14,760 sq km), South Pacific, E of Australia. Vanuatu is a 450-mi (724-km) chain of 80 islands, of which the most important are Espíritu SantoEspírito Santo
, state (1996 pop. 2,786,126), 15,200 sq mi (39,368 sq km), E Brazil, on the Atlantic Ocean. Vitória is the capital.
..... Click the link for more information. (the largest), EfateEfate
, Fr. Vaté , volcanic island, c.300 sq mi (780 sq km), South Pacific, most important island of Vanuatu and seat of Port Vila, the capital and administrative center. Efate produces copra, coffee, and sandalwood. Havannah Harbour was developed during World War II.
..... Click the link for more information. , Malakula, Malo, Pentecost, and Tanna. South of Vanuatu and east of New Caledonia are the uninhabited Matthew and Hunter islands, which are claimed by both. The capital, Port VilaPort Vila
or Vila,
town (2009 pop. 45,694), capital and largest town of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. On the SW coast of Efate island, it is a deep-sea port built around a natural harbor at Pontoon Bay.
..... Click the link for more information. , is on Efate. Vanuatu's islands are forested and mountainous, formed by volcanic eruptions (and still subject to them). The highest peak (c.6,195 ft/1,890 m) is on Espiritu Santo.

People, Economy, and Government

The inhabitants are mainly Melanesians, with some Polynesians. There are more than 100 indigenous languages, but a local pidgin called Bislama or Bichelama is widely spoken. Bislama, English, and French are the official languages. The majority of the population is Christian, primarily Protestant.

The chief industries are copra production, cattle raising, and fishing, but the majority of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Manganese was mined in the 1960s and 70s. Additional revenues derive from a growing tourist industry and the development of Vila as an offshore financial center. Copra, beef, cocoa, and timber are the main exports; machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and fuels are imported. Thailand, Japan, Australia, and Poland are the main trading partners.

Vanuatu is governed under the constitution of 1980. The president, who is head of state, is indirectly elected for a five-year term. The government is headed by the prime minister, who is elected by Parliament from among its members. Members of the 52-seat Parliament are popularly elected to serve four-year terms. Administratively, the country is divided into six provinces. Vanuatu is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

History

Vanuatu has been inhabited since at least 1000 B.C.; remains of the Lapita culture from that time have been excavated. Legends dating to the 15th cent. describe a huge explosion in the South Pacific; in 1993 a scientist suggested that the Vanuatan islands of Tongoa and Epi (since separated by the island of Kuwae) were created in 1453 when a larger island was split in two by an enormous volcanic explosion. The archipelago was visited in 1606 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandez de Queiros, and in 1774 Capt. James Cook made the first systematic exploration of the islands, which became known as the New Hebrides.

English missionaries began arriving in the early 19th cent. With them came the "sandalwooders," who, once the local sources of sandalwood ran out, began kidnapping natives for the sugar and cotton plantations in Queensland, Australia. British attempts to halt the decimation of the native population met success in 1887, when the islands were placed under an Anglo-French naval commission. The commission was replaced by a condominium in 1906. During World War II the islands served as bases for Allied forces in the Pacific theater.

In 1980 the New Hebrides became independent as Vanuatu, and a secession movement on Espiritu Santo was put down with aid from Papua New Guinea and Britain. A coalition government led by Prime Minister Maxime Carlot took office in 1991. Jean-Marie Léyé was elected president in 1994. Carlot's government lost power after the 1995 general elections, but the new coalition foundered, and Corlot again was prime minister from April to September in 1996, when Serge Vohor took office. After new elections in 1998, Donald Kalpokas became prime minister, but a no-confidence motion in 1999, led to his resignation, and Barak Sopé succeeded him. Also in 1999, John Bernard Bani was elected president. Edward Natapei replaced Sopé as prime minister in 2001.

Alfred Maseng became the country's fifth president in Apr., 2004, but he was removed from office the following month. After parliamentary elections in July, Serge Vohor became prime minister for a second time, and in August, Kalkot Mataskelekele was elected president. Vohor's government fell in Dec., 2004, after government ministers resigned over actions he had taken without consulting with them; Ham Lini succeeded him.

Elections in 2008 brought a new governing coalition, with Natapei again as prime minister, into office. In 2009, Iolu Johnson Abil was elected president. Natapei was ousted in no-confidence vote in Dec., 2010, and Sato Kilman succeeded him. Kilman was ousted four months later and Vohor replaced him, but in May, 2011, the no-confidence vote was declared unconstitutional and Kilman restored to office. In June, Kilman's election also was voided. Natapei became prime minister pending a new vote, in which Kilman was reelected. Kilman remained prime minister after the 2012 elections but resigned prior to a no-confidence vote in Mar., 2013. Moana Carcasses Kalosil succeeded Kilman but was replaced in May, 2014, by Joe Natuman after a no-confidence vote; Natuman was replaced by Kilman in June, 2015, after a no-confidence vote. In Sept., 2014, Baldwin Lonsdale was elected to succeed Abil as president

A tropical cyclone devastated much of the nation in Mar., 2015. A government crisis was provoked in late 2015 after the parliament speaker, as acting president, pardoned himself, Deputy Prime Minister Carcasses, and a dozen other members of parliament; they had been convicted of bribery. Lonsdale revoked the pardons, which were also overturned by the supreme court. The president also dissolved parliament and called a snap election, following which Charlot Salwai became (Feb., 2016) prime minister. After President Lonsdale died in June, 2017, Obed Moses Tallis was elected (July) to succeed him. Eruptions of the volcano on the island of AmbaeAmbae,
volcanic island, c.154 sq mi (400 sq km), Penama prov., N Vanuatu, SW Pacific, 30 mi (48 km) E of Espíritu Santo; also known historically as Aoba, Omba, and Lepers Island. The island, which is 24 mi (39 km) long and 9 mi (14.
..... Click the link for more information. in 2017 and 2018 led to the evacuation of Ambae's population.

Vanuatu

Official name: Republic of Vanuatu

Capital city: Port-Vila (on Efate)

Internet country code: .vu

Flag description: Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar’s tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Geographical description: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Total area: 4,707 sq. mi. (12,190 sq. km.)

Climate: Tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu(s); adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Population: 211,971 (July 2007 CIA est.)

Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 94%, European 4%, other Pacific Islanders, Asian 2%

Languages spoken: local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7%

Religions: Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3%

Legal Holidays:

Assumption Day	Aug 15
Children's Day	Jul 24
Christmas Day	Dec 25
Constitution Day	Oct 5
Custom Chiefs Day	Mar 6
Easter Monday	Apr 25, 2011; Apr 9, 2012; Apr 1, 2013; Apr 21, 2014; Apr 6, 2015; Mar 28, 2016; Apr 17, 2017; Apr 2, 2018; Apr 22, 2019; Apr 13, 2020; Apr 5, 2021; Apr 18, 2022; Apr 10, 2023
Family Day	Dec 26
Fr. Walter Lini Day	Feb 21
Good Friday	Apr 22, 2011; Apr 6, 2012; Mar 29, 2013; Apr 18, 2014; Apr 3, 2015; Mar 25, 2016; Apr 14, 2017; Mar 30, 2018; Apr 19, 2019; Apr 10, 2020; Apr 2, 2021; Apr 15, 2022; Apr 7, 2023
Independence Day	Jul 30
Labour Day	May 1
New Year's Day	Jan 1
Unity Day	Nov 29

Vanuatu

a republic comprising a group of islands in the W Pacific, W of Fiji: a condominium under Anglo-French joint rule from 1906; attained partial autonomy in 1978 and full independence in 1980 as a member of the Commonwealth. Its economy is based chiefly on copra. Official languages: Bislama; French; English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: vatu. Capital: Vila (on Efate). Pop.: 217 000 (2004 est.). Area: about 14 760 sq. km (5700 sq. miles)

Vanuatu

Van·ua·tu

Vanuatu

Va•nu•a•tu

Vanuatu

Vanuatu

People, Economy, and Government

History

Vanuatu

Legal Holidays:

Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Synonyms for Vanuatu

noun a volcanic island republic in Melanesia

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