Prime Minista i anaonsem 100 day plan blong hem tete February 9 2023 hemia long national mo provincial level.

Ol eria blong prioriti hemi includum extention blong ol rod, ol health fasiliti, infrastructure, public sector reform, inkris long climate change fund, Air Vanuatu reform mo tu citizenship program long kaontri.

Government national priorities, provincial priorities mo priorities blong ol constituencies hem i wan caucus led policy drive.

From se ol priorities ia hem i blong 4 yrs mo i gat time line blong each and every projects ia, caucus blong government nau bai i drivem blong make sure se ol projects ia i delivered on time.

By VBTC

The Department of Strategic Policy, Planning & Aid Coordination (DSPPAC) Unit under the Prime Minister’s Office, signed a Partnership Agreement on 27th January 2023 with the Vanuatu Skills Partnership (VSP) for the implementation of the TC Harold recovery initiative across Sanma, Malampa and Penama. These provinces were significantly affected by the Category 5 cyclone in 2020 and the Government of Vanuatu received additional grant funding from the Government of Australia to respond to the crisis.

This event formalises the strong collaboration between the two organisations to work towards the shared goal of an effective, decentralised, and inclusive skills system that supports a fair, prosperous, and sustainable Vanuatu. The agreement has a specific focus on the development of ni-Vanuatu small business and employment across a range of sectors through skills development and market access activities.

Director of DSPPAC, John Ezra, said that since VSP, through the Ministry of Education and Training Skills Centres, is well established in all the provinces, this collaboration will enable the Government of Vanuatu to successfully deliver on its commitment to economic recovery following the disaster and the achievement of the goals of the 2030 People’s Plan. 

“I believe this partnership will continue to deliver results. We will continue to work together to ensure all ni-Vanuatu have the necessary skills to help them advance in life.”

VSP’s Director, Fremden Yanhambath, said that through the generous financial assistance from the Australian Government, the Partnership is well positioned to scale up its work in collaboration with DSPPAC to support the priority needs of the Government of Vanuatu - in key recovery areas of agribusiness, construction, tourism recovery and local training provider strengthening.

“We will continue to strengthen our partnership with DSSPAC to address priority needs and maximise economic growth opportunities. We will listen and seek your guidance on the implementation of this recovery strategy and, most importantly, the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP), so that we can achieve tangible results and continue to build on them.”

VSP recently held its annual strategic planning held at Le Life, and plans for this year are already looking busy to serve the population of Vanuatu across all provinces.

The total value for the implementation of the TC Harold recovery initiative is Vt160, 000,000, and is expected to be completed by 2025.

Prime Minister Hon Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau Maau'koro called the Director General Mr Leonard Louma in to his office for a quick update on Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). He made the call as new MSG Chairman following his election as Prime Minister on the 4^th of November, 2022 as Prime Minister.

He told DG Louma that MSG need to be more vocal on issues affecting our region and we must not lose sight of the fact that we are a strategic bloc to be reckon withs because we have a huge land mass, population and natural resources. Therefore, we need to be more focal and energize towards ensuring that the region gets as much attention as it can, the PM stressed. PM also raised a point that any future employment with in the MSG we must first look with in our region if we have people with required skills set. If Melanesian region does not have those skill sets for any upcoming job then we can look beyond our region, the new Chairman reiterated.

Fiji now has a new Prime Minister and we need to start talking. There are issues with Kiribati that made me started thinking we should be speaking out more as Melanesians so that no one feels isolated and vulnerable. Now that we have a new Prime Minister in Fiji, we need to start talking and engage more with each other.

  As Chair of the MSG, my best interest would be to have a meeting with my colleagues just so we hold ourselves true to the aspirations of our founding father. I will be meeting with the Australian Prime Minister so it is crucial that we meet for a shell of kava at the MSG Secretariate or via virtual with other leaders.. I want to feel that Melanesian spirit of brotherhood before meeting with Australian Prime Minister now that Australian is a member of MSG under the PIF (Pacific Island Forum)  said the new chairman. The more we continue talking with each other with an open mind, the MSG bloc will only grow stronger, according to the new Chairman.

TUESDAY 18th February, 2025 – Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Jotham Napat is moving straight ahead with the Government’s recovery efforts – calling the first ever meeting with the private sector early this week – together with his Deputy and Finance Minister Hon. Johnny Koanapo and all key ministers in order to hear them out, and get to grips with key issues facing the private sector, particularly within the Central Business District (CBD), following the December 17th 2024 quake.

There is no denying that the private sector plays a significantly important role in the national economy by supporting the government through taxes, but also providing employment to citizens – and for Port Vila, contributes to its overall wellbeing, ambience and livability.

As a result of the earthquake that violently shook the Vanuatu Capital, close to 1000 jobs were impacted. Such a high figure of job losses does not bode well for the new Government which clearly does not want to lose any more time with recovery.

A key message of Monday’s meeting with the private sector was to ensure that there is collaboration and cooperation between both the Government and the private sector and that everyone was working in unison together, to help alleviate the impacts and ultimately restore the Central Business District. But a major hindrance is directly linked to damaged buildings.

Prime Minister Napat made it clear he wants the CBD to open sooner rather than later. As such demolition and removal of debris should not keep the rest of the business owners waiting. However, he said this could be done in a “win-win situation” so that if an owner feels they cannot afford the demolition costs, then they need to speak to the Government.

The Government can then step in to finance the demolition costs. And if need be, it may even proceed to forfeit a lease as guarantee until the business owner finds money to pay back demolition costs to get their lease back.

The gathering of some 300 or so business owners who attended expressed deep appreciation to the Government for calling the meeting – especially when they felt they were being left out in the Government’s overall decision-making process.