Vanuatu Politics & Home News

07/07/2025

🌟 Job Opportunity: Female Housekeeper Wanted 🌟

We are currently looking for a reliable and detail-oriented female housekeeper to join our team!

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🧹 Responsibilities:

✅ Clean and tidy all rooms and common areas
✅ Change and wash linens
✅ Replenish supplies (toiletries, water, etc.)
✅ Report any damages or safety concerns
✅ Follow cleaning schedules and quality standards

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📋 Requirements:

🔸 Proven experience as a housekeeper or cleaner (preferred)
🔸 Ability to work independently and efficiently
🔸 Strong time-management skills
🔸 Trustworthy and respectful of privacy

🕒 Working Hours:
• Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Saturday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

To Apply send your CV to [email protected] or call 35841

06/07/2025

‼️ Malolo Airport Set for Major Upgrade to All-Weather Standard

The Vanuatu Government has officially launched a major upgrade of Malolo Airport in northern Maewo, aiming to transform it into an all-weather facility. Prime Minister Jotham Napat and Minister of Infrastructure Xavier Emmanuel Harry led the groundbreaking ceremony following a brief 22-minute flight from Santo on Friday.

The Vt100 million project, fully funded by the Government, will be undertaken by contractor Pierre Brunnet and is expected to be completed before the end of 2025. The upgrade includes extending the runway by 1km, improving the taxiway and apron, and adding gravel to ensure year-round access.

The initiative also involves the construction of a new bridge across a fast-flowing river near the airport to guarantee community access during the rainy season. The Government sees Maewo as a future hub for agriculture and tourism, with infrastructure development key to unlocking its potential.

Prime Minister Napat assured local landowners that compensation will be provided for the land acquisition and thanked them for their ongoing patience. In response to requests from Maewo’s MP and Minister for Agriculture Ian Wilson, supported by Chief Albert Wens, the Government agreed to have the contractor assist with road maintenance, with communities offering free quarry materials in return.

The project is a significant step in improving connectivity and boosting economic opportunities for the island.

06/07/2025

The Tura family is struggling to return to their ancestral land in Belmol, Santo, over a year after the Court of Appeal overturned their eviction. The court ruled on 17 May 2024 that the Tura family holds secondary customary rights to the land and that their right to remain should be resolved through traditional kastom processes—not civil court.

The family had been evicted in August 2022 following a 2021 Supreme Court order favoring the Taftumol family, the primary landowners. However, the Appeal Court found the eviction unlawful, saying the Tura family's rights were not properly considered under the Custom Land Management Act.

Despite the ruling, the Tura family says land parcels were sold during their absence, and they allege misuse of legal documents, particularly a "Green Certificate" used to support the eviction. They are calling for an investigation into these sales and for recognition and protection of their customary rights.

The Tura family has ancestral ties to the land spanning over five generations. Though some members have returned, disputes continue, and they seek help from authorities and kastom leaders to restore justice and preserve social harmony.

Credit to Vanuatu Daily Post

06/07/2025

MP Jay Ngwele of Ambae has been formally accused of fraud and interfering with justice. The Public Prosecutor is seeking a 14-day remand, citing risks of interference, reoffending, and the seriousness of the charges, which include obtaining money by deception and multiple violations of the Leadership Code — with potential penalties of up to 12 years in prison and heavy fines.

Ngwele allegedly took VT1 million from a complainant for a vehicle purchase that never occurred. During a police interview, he reportedly expressed intent to repay the money in exchange for the complaint's withdrawal, which prosecutors view as clear evidence of attempting to obstruct justice.

Authorities argue bail is insufficient due to Ngwele’s alleged willingness to manipulate legal processes and ongoing investigations into other misconduct. The Magistrate Court has yet to decide on the remand request..

05/07/2025

In 2017, during the presidential election, Chief Justice Vincent Lunabeck called for a moment of prayer. As the chamber fell silent, he asked, "Is there any Christian among you?" One member of the Electoral College then stepped forward and led the prayer.

Happy Sunday

05/07/2025

Woman sentenced for selling cannabis to youth

A 40-year-old woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis in December last year.

Lina Loui was found selling cannabis to youth at a nakamal in Lakeleo, where she was renting a room.

Police discovered a brown bag containing two large packages wrapped in aluminium foil, along with a small plastic bag holding 54 smaller foil-wrapped packages. The contents tested positive for cannabis, with a total weight of 237.9 grams.

Lina admitted that the cannabis was sent to her from Epi to be sold.

Judge Josaia Naigulevu of the Supreme Court set a starting point of 18 months’ imprisonment after considering aggravating and mitigating factors, including previous similar rulings.

Loui received a six-month reduction for her early guilty plea, followed by a further three-month reduction for personal circumstances.

Her final sentence of nine months’ imprisonment was suspended for 18 months. She was warned not to reoffend during the suspension period.

The court also ordered her to perform 50 hours of supervised community work within six months.

Credit to Vanuatu Daily Post

05/07/2025

Father of four ordered to perform community work

A father of four from Erakor Village has been ordered to perform 100 hours of community work after being convicted of one count of domestic violence against his wife.

Andrien Carlot physically assaulted his wife after accusing her of being unfaithful. The couple, who had previously participated in seasonal work overseas, were at home sharing stories about their travels when Carlot became angry and began making accusations. He then punched his wife in the face, causing her to experience numbness and spit blood. The incident was later reported to the police.

Domestic violence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to VT100,000, or both.

After considering the aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Dudley Aru set a starting point of two years’ imprisonment.

Carlot initially maintained a not guilty plea but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial. Due to the late plea, only five months were deducted from his sentence.

His sentence was reduced by a further six months for personal factors, including being a first-time offender, showing remorse, and his willingness to carry out a custom reconciliation with his wife and children. An additional one-month reduction was applied for time already spent in custody.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The court warned that if he reoffends during the suspension period, he will be arrested and required to serve the full sentence.

Carlot was given 14 days to appeal the sentence.

Credit to Vanuatu Daily Post

04/07/2025

03/07/2025

Toady's Daily Post

03/07/2025

Coworkers Are NOT Your Friends: Focus, Not Friendship, in the Workplace

In today's workplace, it's easy to blur the lines between professional and personal relationships. Many employees fall into the trap of treating coworkers like close friends, only to later face the consequences of misplaced trust, office drama, or damaged reputations. Here's a reality check: coworkers are not your friends—and that's okay.

The workplace is a professional environment. You're there to do a job, earn a paycheck, and go home. While it's fine to be polite, collaborative, and even friendly, mistaking work relationships for genuine friendship can lead to problems. Gossip spreads quickly, and what you share can be used against you. Personal details that feel harmless in the moment can resurface in performance reviews, layoffs, or office politics.

Instead, keep things simple:

Avoid gossip – It’s toxic and rarely stays private.

Do your job well – Let your work speak for itself.

Get paid and go home – Protect your time, energy, and peace.

At the end of the day, professionalism protects both your career and your mental health. You don’t need workplace besties to succeed—you need focus, boundaries, and a paycheck.

02/07/2025

PM Napat: Government Travel Ban Applied Only During 100-Day Plan

PORT VILA — Prime Minister Jotham Napat has clarified that the government-imposed travel ban was strictly limited to the administration’s initial 100-day plan period, which has now concluded.

In an interview with VBTC News, Prime Minister Napat emphasized that the freeze on official travel — including his own — was part of an effort to prioritize domestic governance and reform during the government’s first 100 days in office.

“When I stopped travel, it was during the 100-day plan. I didn’t travel either — I waited until it ended before making my first trip to Fiji,” Mr. Napat said.

With the 100-day plan now complete, government travel has resumed. However, the Prime Minister stressed that it will be carefully monitored, warning that any misuse of travel privileges by ministers could trigger a reassessment of the policy.

“If ministers start to abuse travel privileges, then we must draw the line and revisit the policy — whether we allow it or not,” he said.

The Prime Minister also addressed recent scrutiny over a high-level delegation to Fiji, led by the Minister of Trade and including more than 20 officials. He defended the trip, describing it as vital to Vanuatu’s economic strategy.

“The government is exploring the idea of establishing an Economic Trade Zone. Fiji is one step ahead of us in this area,” Mr. Napat explained. “We’re trying to find the best model that suits Vanuatu, and that’s why it was important to send a larger team to look at the different solutions Fiji has implemented.”

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility, even as Vanuatu looks abroad for economic partnerships and regional cooperation models.