Transcript
On Tuesday, Vanuatu's Internal Affairs Minister announced a raft of new, tougher immigration measures.
Among them: all arrivals from the Middle East will be closely monitored and only allowed in if they have good intentions.
But by Wednesday, responding to emailed questions by RNZ Pacific, Andrew Napuat denied the policy existed.
"Reference in the press statement to special profiling of visitors from the Middle East was unintentional and incorrect and does not reflect official Government policy."
In recent months, Vanuatu has scrambled to deport dozens of human trafficking victims and criminals.
Observers say the Internal Affairs Minister, under increasing pressure, is rushing through radical immigration reforms.
Last month Vanuatu said it was reviewing a controversial passports for sale scheme that generates around a third of government revenue.
And this month immigration officials blocked an expatriate director of a local newspaper from returning to the country.
The chair of Vanuatu's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Russet, says the government's worried about eroding sovereignty.
"They are a little bit worried about the invasion of the Chinese community into the country, and the Chinese people taking over the position of the Melanesian."
Other measures announced on Tuesday include a new immigration database, increased penalties for overstayers, and higher fees for appeals.
Mr Napuat's press release says work has already begun on a new immigration detention centre.
The complex was announced in July after the government was forced to house 100 Bangladeshi human trafficking victims for months.
A business analyst based in Port Vila, Glen Craig, says the government's new measures are draconian.
"What are they thinking talking about? Vanuatu is supposedly the friendliest country in the world."
Also caught up in Vanuatu's new immigration approach is Vanuatu Daily Post director Dan McGarry.
He's linked Vanuatu's denial of his work and tourist visas this month to his criticism of the government's deportation of suspected Chinese criminals.
Media freedom groups have rallied around Mr McGarry and say his treatment is politically motivated.
The business analyst, Mr Craig, says the case is having a chilling effect on Vanuatu's expatriate community.
"I'm talking to CEOs of banks that have a genuine fear that, we don't want to say too much because I could be the next one that kicked out."
Mr Napuat declined to be interviewed and didn't respond to emailed questions on the other immigration measures.
The Foreign Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, also denied the existence of the Middle East screening policy.
This is Mackenzie Smith.
