The Lands Minister in the ousted Vanuatu government, Ralph Regenvanu, has rejected the new government’s claim concerning the distribution of relief aid after Cyclone Pam in March.

Joe Natuman was removed as prime minister after three members of his coalition government sided with the opposition to pass a motion of confidence against him.

Sato Kilman, who was sacked as foreign minister the previous week, was subsequently elected as the new prime minister.

One of the reasons cited for the motion was controversy over the distribution of post-cyclone aid, that it was too slow and imbalanced.

However Mr Regenvanu says this doesn’t stack up.

“Well, I don’t think the concern about distribution of relief supplies was valid because Vanuatu was praised internationally about how they handled that, and how the government was dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Pam, and so we consider that as much better evaluation of our efforts than what is in the opposition’s motion.”

Yesterday’s change is the 9th change of Prime Minister in Vanuatu in seven years, with no confidence motions being a regular feature in the country’s politics.