Willie Jimmy

Willie Jimmy Tapangararua, often just referred to as Willie Jimmy, is a Vanuatu politician with the National United Party.[1]

Career

Jimmy formerly served as Vanuatu's Minister of Finance.[2] In 2003, he was nominated to be the country's Deputy Prime Minister, but at the last minute was switched to the Minister of Trade position, so that the NUP president could be nominated in his place, as part of a coalition-building strategy.[3] He would go on to play a role in relations with China as his country's first ambassador to China, appointed in 2009.[2][4]

Other

Jean Paul Virelala of the Ministry of Education filed a defamation suit against Jimmy, CEO Terry Kerr of Air Vanuatu, and the Vanuatu Daily Post over 2007 comments by the former two published in the latter organ; the newspaper quoted Jimmy as saying in relation to Virelala's consultancy work for the airline that "I am concerned that Mr. Virelala will be wanting to get back at the current management for his dismissal and it will create problems." However, the suit was thrown out in October 2010.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Jimmy's defeat loss to Vanuatu", Vanuatu Daily Post, 2008-09-06, http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2976/categoryId/3/JimmyAaas-defeat-loss-to-Vanuatu.aspx, retrieved 2010-11-29 
  2. ^ a b "Minister confirms appointment", Vanuatu Daily Post, 2009-05-22, http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4668/Minister-confirms-appointment.aspx, retrieved 2010-11-29 
  3. ^ "Willie Jimmy unhappy at failing to secure Vanuatu deputy premiership", Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 2003-12-02, http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19555844_ITM, retrieved 2010-11-29 
  4. ^ "Chinese Club donate Vt1.4m supplies to landslide victims", Vanuatu Daily Post, 2009-06-23, http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4716/Chinese-Club-donate-Vt14m-supplies-to-landslide-victims.aspx, retrieved 2010-11-29 
  5. ^ Neil-Jones, Marc (2010-10-09), "Virelala loses defamation case", Vanuatu Daily Post, http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/7802/Virelala-loses-defamation-case.aspx, retrieved 2010-11-29