Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Kilman repays debt to stand in Vanuatu election

Posted at 04:34 on 12 October, 2012 UTC

Vanuatu’s caretaker Prime Minister Sato Kilman has repaid a multi million vatu debt for government housing in order to be able to stand for re-election in the coming polls.

Mr Kilman was among those left off the list of candidates for this month’s general election.

The Electoral Commission, which published the list, says most of those left off had debts to settle.

Our correspondent in Port Vila, Hilaire Bule, says the 140,000 US dollars owing was paid off late yesterday afternoon.

“His political advisor confirmed to me that he personally went to the Office of the Electoral Commission to pay out the 13 million (owed by) Mr Kilman. The 13 million was accumulated from the non-payment of government housing by Mr Kilman since 1994.”

Hilaire Bule says the debtors had three days to repay money and the Electoral Commission is expected to publish a new list of candidates on Monday.