The Vanuatu Daily Post is a newspaper published in Port Vila in Vanuatu. It is the only daily newspaper in Vanuatu.
The newspaper's founder, Marc Neil-Jones, had been the victim of physical attacks supported by government ministers during his time at the newspaper.[4]
Work permit controversy
Dan McGarry, the newspaper's media director and a Canadian national, announced on 7 November 2019 that the Vanuatu government had refused to renew his work permit. McGarry stated that the 'overt reason' was that his role should have been 'localized' (filled by a Vanuatu citizen) but claimed that the 'real reason' was that the Daily Post's reporting had discomforted the government. He has appealed against the decision.[5]
On 6 July 2019, the Daily Post published an article detailing the deportation of six Chinese nationals by the Vanuatuan government.[5] Four of the six nationals had been granted Vanuatuan citizenship under the country's Development Support Programme.[6] McGarry said he was 'quite confident' it was coverage of that story which had upset the government.[5]
McGarry, who has lived in Vanuatu for 16 years and whose spouse and children are from the country, stated that in July 2019, the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai berated him for what Salwai said was his 'negative' reporting and said 'If you don't like it here, go home'.[5]
Vanuatu's Media Association called on the government to reconsider and afford the correct legal rights to McGarry.[7]
References
^ ab"Personnel". Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
^ ab"About Us". Vanuatu Daily Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
