TUESDAY 18th February, 2025 – In an effort to improve accessibility to Government services, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Jotham Napat has directed all civil servants to keep all public offices opened throughout lunch hours so that the public can still access government services as needed.

What that means is for civil servants to better organize themselves so that the offices are still being manned, while others find lunch.

The instructions directly address a concern from many who have had an experience trying to access government offices and services only to be told they could not because, either people were unavailable, or were out running some private errands, which go beyond lunch breaks.

He urged civil servants to put themselves in the shoes of ordinary citizens, some of whom must travel long distances just to make a simple enquiry, place a request or access a government service.

“Remember, you will one day leave your office and become just an ordinary citizen. You want to cultivate the right culture now in the public service so that when you decide to move on or retire, you know you can expect better.

“I have experienced it myself, even in my capacity as a member of parliament,” he told everyone today after morning devotion at the Prime Minister’s Office.

“You are called civil servants. Remember that. We are here to serve our people,” Prime Minister Napat stressed.

In addition, the Prime Minister is also putting a total ban on Government retreats. All these are part of his Government’s efforts to breakdown what may have become the norm for departments to go on lavish retreats that could be organized in-house to save cost, amidst rising costs and economic hardships.

He has already announced a blanket ban on all overseas travels unless justified. He says there are other measures that the Government could and would consider to ensure Vanuatu begins to live within its means, in light of the current challenges facing the nation.