26 Jun 2019

Vanuatu founder rails against passport sales

5:53 pm on 26 June 2019

The sale of Vanuatu passports to foreigners means the country's struggle for independence was worth nothing, the first president of Vanuatu, Ati George Sokomanu, says.

Ati George Sokomanu

Ati George Sokomanu Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post

His comment follows revelations that more than 4000 Vanuatu passports have been sold to foreigners under the citizenship program.

Under the programme, foreigners can pay to become honorary citizens of Vanuatu which entitles them to hold passports.

Mr Sokomanu called on the government to find other means of generating income, to stop passport sales and to move away from being a tax haven.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs