Port Vila, Vanuatu – 21st April, 2026 — The attendance of two Ministers and the Director for Digital Transformation at the recent World Internet Conference in Hong Kong was approved by Prime Minister Jotham Napat as Minister responsible for ICT and digital technology — and it was both imperative and right.
The Prime Minister does not approve travel for the sake of travel. Every overseas engagement is assessed on national interest.
“In this day and age, it is no longer acceptable for leaders in Parliament to be detached from the reality of today’s digital technology, the onslaught of AI, and the critical issues of cyberspace and security. Gone are the days when leaders or lawmakers can only rely on technical officers for advice. Political leaders make policy. They pass laws. They commit public funds. They cannot do that blindly. They must be on top of their game,” said Prime Minister Hon. Jotham Napat.
Sending Ministers to the World Internet Conference is not “stupidity” — it is forward-looking. Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybercrime, data sovereignty, and digital infrastructure are now core governance issues, not niche technical topics. Decisions made in these spaces affect every Ni-Vanuatu citizen.
The Director for Digital Transformation Mr John Jack also attended alongside the two Ministers, one of whom is the Minister responsible for national security - precisely to ensure technical continuity and to brief the wider public service on outcomes. But Ministers lead. If we expect them to legislate on digital technology, cybercrime, data protection, and AI regulation, then they must be exposed to global best practice and expert dialogue.
Vanuatu cannot afford to have a Parliament that is digitally illiterate while the world moves ahead. That would be the real misuse of prioritisation.
In 2025, Vanuatu and Fiji took important steps towards addressing cybercrime by ratifying the Budabest Convention on Cybercrime. Prior to that ratification Minister Napuat himself attended the ‘Parliamentarians for Global Action on Cybercrime in June in Fiji. This meeting was following in similar veins and should not be a surprise.
The Government will continue to ensure that both political leaders and technical officials are equipped to navigate the digital era. That is not a luxury. It is a necessity for national security and development.