Crises come and go. They all leave their impact. But life continues

The 2017/2018 Tourism Awards for Excellence ceremony has been set for Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Vanuatu Convention Center to be followed by a Gala Dinner at the Farea Pasifik, Warwick Le Lagon Hotel, Port Vila.

The Office of the Maritime Regulator (OMR) has detained a Papua New Guinea-flagged vessel now in the country found with safety deficiencies.

The Department of Tourism is increasing the scope of its role throughout the country this year to see that locals understand suitable tourism products that will interest tourists before entering into business in that sector.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of Telsat Pacific pay-TV service in Port Vila, Rod Smith, says a lot of their customers are angry that Telsat will not be broadcasting the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia because the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) has the ex…

The Department of Tourism, which helps with empowering and growing ni-Vanuatu participation in the tourism business, issued 1,788 tourism permits to operators in 2017. This was revealed by Donald Pelam, the Acting Director of the Department of Tourism.

The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) held a ceremony at the Warwick Le Lagon Resort in Port Vila Tuesday to thank the major sponsors for their sponsorship and also to sign the sponsorship agreement with each of the sponsors.

Vanuatu Media Marketing Director of Business Development who produce the What to Do publication, Peter Stadly, says they are happy to be part of the sponsors of TokTok Vanuatu this year.

The number of heads of cattle slaughtered by abattoirs in Vanuatu show a declining trend over the last five years.

The private sector says Government needs to pump more money into marketing Vanuatu overseas.

The Vanuatu Post Limited (VPL) has paid a dividend amount of Vt58,916,656 to the Government of Vanuatu, for 2013 and 2014.

Increasing public concerns are being raised about alleged aggressive behavior by members of the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) during operations also involving members of the Municipal wardens and the Department of Customs and Rates and Taxes on the roads of Port Vila to check vehicles.

Digging of trenches for electric cables for Talise Hypro power project at Maewo is reported to be progressing.

Vanuatu has handed over

The announcement made by Australia and New Zealand of the sum of $Aus7.7 million (Vt634 million) Readiness Package, including the $Aus25.5 million (Vt2.1 billion) for the implementation of the PACER Plus agreement and the 20% of their Official Development Assistance (ODA) toward the Aid for …

Vanuatu remains committed to completing its process towards signing and ratifying and benefiting from the PACER Plus Agreement and considers that the Agreement is significant with vast potentials, said the Minister for Climate Change and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ham Lini.

Today, Wednesday, May 31, is the final day to pay the prescribed fees for the 2017 road tax.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jotham Napat, on behalf of the Government of Vanuatu, on Monday signed a contract award for Lot 2 of the Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project (VAIP) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and its joint venture compan…

Maewo Member of Parliament, Ian Wilson, together with the Maewo Custom Movement, Ngwasoanda that voted him into office, have purchased 300 empty 167-litre drums for copra farmers on Maewo in an aim to boost copra quality and increase production.

Disputing parties over the land on which Entani Company have established their base for registering and receiving payment for visits to Yasur Volcano on Tanna have been told to get their stories and documents over rights to the land sorted out before they are paid the money for use of the land.

The First Ordinary Session of Parliament in June will discuss a Bill for the Supplementary Appropriation to be tabled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Gaetan Pikioune, to obtain approval and authorization of Parliament for additional funds totaling Vt1,778,259,400.

Central School in Port Vila has announced it is starting enrollment for its second chance learning program, Central Community Education Program (CCEP).

A week-long Sisters Mastering

Although Turkey faced some difficulties because of its neighboring country Syria in recent years, nowadays things are changing.

The Samsung Notebook7 laptop computer is banned from all flights to, from and within Vanuatu.

The Department of Fisheries’ aquaculture centre at Tagabe in Port Vila made one of its best harvests of fresh water prawns last year and earned nearly Vt200,000 from the four months stock.

The Department of Customs and Inland Revenue has maintained its public notice informing all vehicle owners that the renewal of Road Tax for 2017 is due no later than 4.30pm on Friday, March 31, 2017.

UNELCO and TVL are working closely with Port Vila Urban Development Project (PVUDP) to ’future proof’ the roads, by installing shared utility conduits under the road before the asphalt surface is laid.

Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) has announced a profit of Vt16 million in the first quarter of 2017.

A facelift of Bauerfield Airport’s international and domestic terminals is being planned by Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) to be ready for welcome to Port Vila of visitors and participants in the Pacific Mini Games in December this year.

A custom school specializing in teaching North Raga (Pentecost) language, songs and dances will open on Saturday at Huarere Nagamal at Tagabe in Port Vila.

The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Vanuatu held their fourth Political Dialogue in Brussels this week.

An island off mainland Malekula, called Lenur Island, is up for sale, according to an advertisement on Private Islands Magazine online, the magazine printed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) will not support the idea to introduce income tax in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu’s national language, Bislama, is derived from Beche-de-Mer or sea cucumber, the trade of which commodity in the late 1800s signaled the start of trade relations between Vanuatu and China

The Minister for

The newest subsidiary of Ifira Trustees Limited, Ifira General Services 2000, has taken delivery of a 30-ton Komatsu excavator and a 10,000-litre Caterpillar water truck, total value Vt12 million, to assist the company with its services. The heavy works units were purchased from a local comp…

It was certainly a packed house at the Chamber of Commerce (VCCI) on Wednesday morning as investors and real estate agents crowded in to learn more about the land lease and management laws from the minister largely responsible for their existence, Ralph Regenvanu.

The Vanuatu Codex Committee is preparing for the first time for Vanuatu to host the Regional Codex Meeting in September this year.

Leader of the Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau, has responded to the Prime Minister’s response against him regarding the whereabouts of monies kept by Vanuatu Registry Services (VRS) Limited.

The Opposition is calling on members of the public to tell their Members of Parliament to oppose a reported government plan to introduce income tax for the first time in Vanuatu.

Construction work on the beautification program of Port Vila, under the Vanuatu Tourism Infrastructure Project at both the Seafront and Portside precincts, is well under way after starting in January this year under the direction of the contractor, New Zealand company Hawkins Infrastructure …

Construction work on George Kalsakau Drive is progressing well.