Port Vila, October 3rd 2025, Vanuatu – Prime Minister Jotham Napat apologized on behalf of past governments today to more than 400 teachers at Saralana Park on behalf of the Government before delivering his address to mark the World International Teachers Day. The emotional moment brought tears to many teachers who later met him to offer their sincere gratitude for saying “sorry” at an opportune time, as they finally felt heard and recognized after years of trying to get the authorities to listen.

     In a significant gesture, Prime Minister Napat spoke directly to the teachers' concerns, while acknowledging their prolonged suffering for almost 20 years. He expressed deep regret for the government's inaction, partly because of a lack of leadership at all levels and proper planning and resourcing at the Teaching Services Commission and the Ministry of Education levels. "We understand that this issue has lingered for far too long, and for that, we are truly sorry. We commit to doing better and ensuring that our educators are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve," he said.

     Prior to the Prime Minister’s address, Minister for Finance, Johnny Koanapo, provided clarifications and assurances that the government remains committed to sorting out all verified teachers' claims. "We are dedicated to resolving this matter in a fair and transparent manner. Our priority is to ensure that all legitimate claims are addressed, and we will work diligently to achieve this. He made it clear that the funds allocated are available to begin sorting out the remainder of the outstanding claims once the current verification processes are completed.

     Chairman of the Government’s CBA Taskforce appointed by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Shing provided some useful background and context for the long delay – highlighting disparities in the records and data held by the Ministry of Education, the Teaching Services Commission and the Vanuatu Teachers Union, which needs a lot harmonizing over the next week or so.

     He also pointed out that there is an immediate need for reforming and strengthening the capacity of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).

     "The TSC, responsible for over 4,000 teachers, operates with only 10 staff, compared to the Public Service Commission, which has over 200 staff for less than 2,000 employees. This disparity contributed significantly to the challenges we face today," the First PA of the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Taskforce said.

     With the verification process set to begin on Monday, October 6 2025, the Government and all parties involved are optimistic about resolving the matter within the next week or so before the strikers can return to class.

     Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) Jonathan Yona, expressed his deep appreciation to the Government for its strong commitment, even when at times they dragged their feet out of frustration and anger.

     The government appreciates the patience and understanding of the teachers and is committed to working collaboratively towards a fair and sustainable solution.

    Port Vila – Santo:
    3 weekly flights operated by Solomon Airlines’ Airbus A320.
    Additional cargo capacity included.
    Air Caledonie will also add Monday & Friday services to Santo for business and weekend traffic.
     
    Port Vila – Tanna:
    5 weekly flights operated by Air Caledonie (Domestic).
    Other Domestic Routes:
    Increased capacity to Sola, Norsup, and Longana to meet high demand.
     
    Customer Information:
    Flight schedules available on Air Vanuatu’s website.
    Bookings via Contact Center (Ph: 23838).
    Cargo bookings via Cargo Team Ph: 20200 ext. 627 / email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
     
    Contact Center hours:
    Mon–Fri: 07:30–17:00
    Weekends & Public Holidays: 07:30–14:0

    On Wednesday 10th September 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo signed contracts for Directors of Air Vanuatu and Airports Vanuatu Limited. The Government is moving ahead with its reformist agenda behind all its State Owned Enterprises (SOE) as stipulated by the new Commercial Government Business Enterprises Act 2024.
     
    The Act, amongst its many goals, seeks to remove politics from interfering with business operations of SOEs - something that has clearly been identified as the cause of the downfall of many SOEs.
     
    Minister Koanapo emphasized the importance of the Directors' role in oversighting the management of the two key entities.
     
    The following Directors were present for the contract signing: AVL - Jessie Benjamin (Chair), Jackie Trief, David Warfe, and Romella Bue. AVOL: Paul Pio. Chairman, Captain Robin Deamer is still overseas (PNG) and will sign once the Finance Minister travels to PNG next week.
     
    The Finance Minister urged the Directors to do everything within their powers in order to improve the performances of the two SOEs and the Government through the Commercial Investment Unit (CIU) will be keeping a close watch.
     
    CIU is an entity within Finance. They reveal advertisements for membership of the two boards attracted a lot of interest from applicants wanting to make a difference in the stories of the two bodies, which was encouraging.
     
    The Government fully trusts the boards and has pledged to work closely with them to chart a new chapter - hopefully for the better

    Port Vila, 5th September 2025 – Senior Officials from the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu and the Republic of Fiji successfully concluded their bilateral Maritime Boundary Delimitation talks this week 4th – 5th September 2025, in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

    The boundary talks between the two countries officially began in 2012, with the most recent discussions taking place in Suva, Fiji, in 2019. These talks were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily halted diplomatic engagements. The resumption of the discussions is a significant step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing mutual maritime interests.

    The talks were held in the true Melanesian spirit of goodwill and mutual understanding, with a shared commitment to resolving the maritime boundary issues in a time-bound manner.  A Melanesian approach to resolving the outstanding issue was also highlighted during the talks.

    Officials from both countries agreed that any median line drawn to separate them should be viewed as a “cultural bridge” rather than a colonial one –  a bridge that defines and connects the two country’s historical and cultural Melanesian heritage.

    Through an agreed outcome document signed this morning, both delegations reaffirmed their dedication to completing the outstanding maritime boundary delimitation through diplomatic dialogue and cooperation, in a timely and Melanesian fashion.

    The Government of Vanuatu has taken a significant step towards reforming and restructuring the troubled national airline, Air Vanuatu, with the appointment of its first three Board of Directors under the leadership of a new Chairman, Captain Robin Deamer.

    Minister for Finance and Economic Management, Johnny Koanapo, made the appointments on 26th of August by an instrument, and it comes at a critical juncture in the airline's history.

    The new Board of Directors, include Julie Takau, Paul Pio, and Ben Tofor as new incoming Board of Directors. They join existing Board members - Alexandre Perret and Roan Lester Sunghk. The incoming Board of Directors were selected purely on merit as stipulated by the Commercial Government Business Enterprise Act, following a recruitment process that started earlier this year. The Board will work closely with Chairman Captain Deamer to steer the airline back towards recovery. The appointments also follow the removal of five former Board of Directors, marking a fresh start for the airline.

    The Government's decision to appoint the new Board members is a response to the challenges faced by Air Vanuatu, which has been plagued by controversy and financial struggles. The airline's liquidation in 2024 after more than 40 years of service has been a significant blow to the nation, and the Government is determined to revive it.

    The new Board's first task will be to appoint a new CEO, who will be responsible for resurrecting the airline from the ashes. The Government is committed to implementing drastic changes to ensure the airline's success, and the new Board will play a crucial role in this process.

    The appointments are part of the Government's broader efforts to reform state-owned enterprises, starting with the passage of the Commercial Government Business Enterprise legislation. At its core this legislation aims to address issues of political interference and ensure that state-owned enterprises are run as business entities.

    In a related development, the Minister for Finance has also appointed the new Board of Directors for Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL). The new Board members are David Wharfe, Jessie Benjamin, and Jacky Trief, who join Romella Bue - the existing member of the AVL Board.

    The Government's efforts to reform and restructure Air Vanuatu and AVL demonstrate its commitment to improving the nation's aviation infrastructure and ensuring the success of its state-owned enterprises.

    Subcategories

    Press Release

    Offcanvas