The Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have signed the โ€˜Tirvauโ€™ agreement this morning at the Coral Sea Resort in Honiara.
    The Tirvau basic border Agreement is the overarching framework that will govern and regulate the joint border arrangements and movements between the maritime border of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
    Prime Minister, Hon. Jeremiah Manele said the Agreement is about promoting peaceful relations, facilitating economic activities, and ensuring the effective governance of our borders and cooperate on sectoral and humanitarian issues of mutual concern to the two states.
    The Tirvau Agreement is an extension of the Motalava Treaty between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu signed in October 2016 and concerns the sovereignty Maritime and Seabed Boundaries and Cooperation on relation matters.
    Prime Minister Manele said the presence of Vanuatuโ€™s Prime Minister, Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas at this historic signing ceremony signifies the strength and depth of both countries relations that is based on mutual respect, the wantok spirit, the cultural and historical ties.
    Solomon Islands has a special relationship with Vanuatuโ€™s province of Torba, having gifted land last year to the Government of Solomon Islands and Torbaโ€™s sister province of Temotu. Temotuโ€™ Provincial Premier, Hon. Stanley Tehi who was at the signing ceremony has assured that his province will reciprocate the gesture by providing land for the Government of Vanuatu and its sister province of Torba.
    Prime Minister Manele made special mention of his Vanuatu counterpart, Hon. Charlot Salwai who was also Prime Minister in 2016 when the Motalava Treaty was signed with former Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare.
    Elements of the Tirvau Agreement is intergenerational in nature and opens doors for further collaboration, integration and cooperation between the two states.
    Hon. Manele said the agreement cements and binds current relations with a umi tugeda spirit, two wantok countries further formalizing and recognizing the traditional and cultural connections as Melanesians.
    It will also allow for more visibility and transaction between the two countries for stronger connectivity, trading and economic growth.
    With the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Manele called on implementing authorities to be diligent in activating and operationalizing this Agreement on its designated date.
    The name of the Basic Border Agreement is the โ€œTirvau Agreementโ€. Tirvau is the feather money used by the people of Temotu, it signifies the diversity that exists in our countries and the value placed on our relations.
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    By Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade

    Hon. Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas met with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Winston Peters today at the Prime Minister's Office.
    Hon. Prime Minister congratulated Hon. Winston on his election as the 13th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand since November 2023. The Hon Prime Minister stated that this is a significant opportunity for the two countries to continue building on the Maori statement of Partnership which establishes the enduring values, priorities and principles that underpin the two county's relations.
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    "We have valued New Zealand's assistance in times of natural disasters, as well as in times of need. We express through you our gratitude for New Zealand's life-saving humanitarian assistance and relief supplies rendered to our people impacted by these natural events. Recovering from natural disasters has and will always impose extensive development challenges on Vanuatu's economy, given our archipelagic nature" Said Hon. Prime Minister.
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    The Hon. Prime Minister also acknowledge New Zealand's assistance in the social sectors, security, law and justice, Labor Mobility the Recognized Seasonal Worker Program and PACER PLUS entry of Vanuatu products into New Zealand market. And assured Deputy Prime Minister Winston that Vanuatu will continue to value New Zealand's partnership in building stronger business and investment links between the two countries.
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    The two leaders exchanged gifts at the end of discussions.

    Reconstruction of the Teouma Bridge on Efate will now officially begin following its ground-breaking ceremony yesterday on Friday 19th April 2024

    Valued at over a billion, the project is expected to be completed by September 2025, through funds from the Japanese Government.

    Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Matai Seremiah, Minister of Infrastructure Marc Ati, Japanese Ambassador Okuda Naohisa, officers from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Public Works Department witnessed the ground-breaking.

    The project marks the commencement of the reconstruction of the bridge, which serves as the only access route for over 20,000 people residing in the greater eastern part of Efate, facilitating travel to and from Port Vila City.

    In his remarks, PM Salwai said a CTI Engineering International Co., Ltd, a design and supervision consultant from Japan, was selected to provide consulting services for the project beginning in 2016. However, the project faced delays starting in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and ongoing challenges with land acquisition, which were ultimately resolved in 2022.

    In July 2023, a contract agreement was signed between the Contractor, Dai Nippon Construction with a value of JPY 2.060,000,000, which is equivalent to VT1.7 billion.

    The scope of the work covers reconstruction of the bridge, improvement of approach road, construction of slope protection and Other miscellaneous works.

    โ€œThe reconstruction of the bridge will improve connectivity infrastructure, providing safer and faster, all-weather access to rural areas for service delivery. This will stimulate economic growth by enabling rural activities to reach town markets and workplaces, as well as participate in the tourism industry,โ€ said the PM.

    โ€œDuring the 2-year construction period, we anticipate that some percentage of the project cost will be injected into the local economy. Whenever feasible, we will utilise local materials like aggregate and cement. The project will create job opportunities, with some Ni-Vanuatu individuals expected to be employed directly or indirectly. These positions will priorities skills transfer and the enhancement of local capacity.โ€

    He mentioned that the Project Consultant for Design and Supervision, CTI Engineering Co., Ltd. (Japan), along with the PWD team, will oversee the project, and should the bridge work not meet their standards, they will require it to be redone without any additional cost to the taxpayer.

    Acting Secretary General of SHEFA Provincial Council, Liah John, said with the increasing population, more individuals are moving beyond peri-urban areas to rural regions of Efate, particularly the eastern part of the islands, seeking livelihoods opportunities, as there is ample land room for development.

    ย โ€œIt is essential to have critical services available in this eastern part, such as hospitals, police stations, banking services, and supermarkets, which many must cross the Teouma Bridge to access in Port Vila City,โ€ said John.

    โ€œThe greater eastern part of Efate is one of the most fertile areas on the island, abundant with fruit trees, organic root crops, and vegetables, most of which feed the markets of Port Vila and its surrounding areas.

    โ€œMoreover, the greater eastern part of Efate boasts the best picnic spots with beautiful beaches, cool rivers, and waterfalls. Therefore, the bridge serves as the sole access route, making it possible for us to enjoy these resources in the eastern part of the island.

    โ€œThere are several issues that commuters or users of the current bridge face, such as heavy river flows causing parts of the bridge to submerge, inadequate space for vehicles and pedestrians. I believe that the reconstruction of the bridge will address these issues and is crucial to ensuring safe access for everyone, fostering economic and social growth. It signifies the true and enduring partnership between Vanuatu and Japan,โ€ she said.

    Japanese Ambassador Noahisa said they are well aware that the bridge is an indispensable transportation link in the daily lives of the people.

    According to him, the bridge was completely destroyed by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2002. It was rebuilt in 2003 through Japan's Grant Aid Program

    โ€œHowever, the approach road to the bridge was damaged by flooding caused by Cyclone Pam in 2015. The bridge was temporarily repaired, but risked being destroyed or blocked if another severe flood were to occur.

    "Understanding the anticipated risks posed by the existing conditions of the bridge, Japan had decided to rehabilitate and improve it at the request of the Vanuatu Government.

    โ€œIn December 2019, the Exchange of Notes for this project was signed. However, we decided to provide additional financial support and the second Exchange of Notes was signed in March last year, to address project funding shortfalls caused by the soaring fuel and material prices, the COVID 19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as the impact of the recent depreciation of the Japanese currency. This additional financial support will lead to ensuring the implementation of this important project,โ€ he stated.

    By Doddy Morris

    Daily Post Vanuatu

    The United States ambassador to PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu visited the Prime Minister Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas today 16th April 2024.

    โ€œWe are anxious to come backโ€ was the words of Ambassador Anne Marie Yastishock. PM Salwai said that the United States of America and Vanuatu has a long-term friendship that existed way back. Vanuatu is a group of islands in the South Pacific that is prone and vulnerable to natural disasters and tourism has always been the main income of revenue of this Country. However there has always been problems faced in terms of infrastructure such as roads, wharf and airport.

    Prime Minister Salwai stated that the United States has contributed a lot in the development of Vanuatu through the works of Peace Corps in various sectors like Education. After a long period of time without the presence of a US diplomatic Presence in Vanuatu, Ambassador Anne assured the Hon. Prime Minister that a US embassy will be built in Vanuatu.

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