Do Not Remove CRB Host Materials From Mangaliliu: Biosecurity Dep’t

Participants of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) General Assembly, underway at Mangalilu in north Efate, are advised not to take materials that can harbour the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) out from the assembly venue.

Officers from the Department of Biosecurity (DoB) will be checking participants during the closing ceremony, to ensure they do not leave with materials such as food crops and flowering plants that can transmit CRB infection, said the Acting Principal Biosecurity, Leisongi Bule.

Such materials should be cleaned before taken out from Mangalilu, she said.

The General Assembly closing ceremony is scheduled at the end of this week. Bule said DoB has requested PCV to include them in its programme during one of the days to talk about the CRB inspection to everyone at the assembly venue.

Mangaliliu was the incursion site for CRB. Efforts to contain the infection there were unsuccessful as the dangerous coconut beetle is now spreading in Port Vila.

CRB has been spotted at Beverly Hills and Pango after spreading to Ifira in October last year, according to the Acting Principal Biosecurity Bule.

Bule told the Daily Post that the Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved more than 20 casual workers to assist with efforts of containing and preventing further spread of CRB.

The Department of Biosecurity is also regularly monitoring domestic vessels to ensure they leave Port Vila harbour not later than 4pm as per an Order signed by the Minister of Agriculture to reduce further spread of CRB.

The Order also instruct ships to also reduce their amount of lights before departure.

It also prohibits the freighting of agricultural goods such as firewood, coconut husks and trunks, palm fronds and manure (pig and poultry) out from Port Vila.

Some ships have already been issued penalty notices for non-compliance.