Fiji, July 24 -- The Vanuatu Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (VANGO) and its member civil society organisations have voiced support for Dr Anna Naupa and the Government of Vanuatu's position that her appointment as Director-General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was based on merit.

In a statement, VANGO said leadership appointments should be determined by qualifications, experience, capability and merit, and that no individual should be denied a leadership role because of gender.

VANGO noted that the Government had stated Dr Naupa's appointment was not made by the Vanuatu Government but resulted from an independent MSG selection process involving member countries, through which she was selected as the most qualifi...