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.