A custom chief of Torba Province has criticized the delay to pay cheques to members of the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) in line with their requests to apply for personal loans against their savings application.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has ordered all remaining schools within Vanuatu which are still operating to suspend operations until the end of the State of Emergency (SoE).

The Australian Government has shared its response to the COVID-19 pandemic across the Pacific and challenges leaders and communities to support each other in this time of crisis.

The head of NDMO, Abraham Nasak, made the order of Censorship of information relating to COVID-19 and its prevention and containment measures under the State of Emergency Regulation to ensure that any information relating to COVID19 is verified by NDMO prior to it being published in the media.

The Principal of Erakor Bilingual School, Mr. Kalfau Kalsakau is asking all parents who are yet to collect the Homeschool package for their children to go to the school and collect them.

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is supporting the government and people of Vanuatu by providing 12 units of container houses to be used as the Isolation Centre at the Vila Central Hospital (VCH).

The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu’s (RBV) Board of Directors reduced the RBV’s policy interest rate to 2.25 percent from 2.90 percent following the Bank’s assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Vanuatu’s economy and RBV’s monetary policy settings. The Board also undertook additional poli…

Schools around Vanuatu will be exempted to tuition fee this year due to the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

All business houses are required to set up Handwashing facilities or Hand Washing stations within their premises.

Tafea Police Patrol yesterday detained the captain of MV Touaraken 3 at Lenakel wharf for breaching State of Emergency orders.

Following the State of Emergency (SOE) declaration made on the 25th of March 2020, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) Office had come out to clarify several points covered.

The PENAMA Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) at Saratamata on Ambae has been activated following the State of Emergency (SOE) and it is focusing on preparedness planning for COVID-19.

A complaint has been lodged with police over the use of foul language against caretaker Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, on Facebook.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is currently implementing the COVID-19 Food Security Response Plan endorsed by the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC).

The SANMA Provincial Government Council (SPGC) is confident of implementing its 2020 long-term vision towards the developments within its area councils.

COVID-19 impacts felt across the region

The Council of Ministers (COM) has imposed a curfew on individuals under the State of Emergency (SOE) Regulation, prohibiting individuals from leaving their residence from 9pm to 4am during the SOE period.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has signed a service agreement under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a lead kava farmer and his family on Tanna on March 2020.

The Vanuatu Government has committed itself to supporting the country’s economy during the COVID-19 crisis, with an objective to keep people safe, employed and keep businesses open.

The Telecommunication companies in Vanuatu have been acknowledged for coming forward with offers to assist the people as the country stepped up its precautionary measures against the COVID-19 threat.

World-renowned multinational telecommunication Brand Vodafone with the largest 4G+ network is now in Vanuatu.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Pacific ICT Days 2020, decided recently to postpone the 2020 Pacific ICT Days until further notice, due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic that is affecting many countries around the world, including the Pacific region also.

The Standing Orders of the National Parliament of Vanuatu have not been adhered to for the calling of the first sitting of Parliament in the 12th Legislature.

Kava bars are allowed to operate only as takeaways until 7.30pm during the State of Emergency (SOE) period.

The Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) will be releasing more than Vt100 million for 1,500 members who have submitted applications for the Hardship Loan last week.

All kava bars are expected to be closed starting today (Tuesday) and throughout the State of Emergency (SOE) period.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) is launching the new Call Center aimed at boosting public access to its warning services in Vanuatu. The Call Center is established in the National Warning Center within VMGD with the support of the Office of the Government Chief Info…

The Town Clerk of the Port Vila Municipal Council (PVMC) has confirmed that a main priority for PVMC is the lack of space within the cemetery.

Mayor of the Luganville Municipal Council (LMC), Peter Patty, has issued a final instruction to shops in Luganville Town to keep their goods at the normal price during the State of Emergency (SOE) or they will be shut down.

The Electoral Commission has commenced the official counting of the General Elections official results yesterday afternoon.

While the country is looking forward to the formation of the new Government for 2020 following the successful general elections on March 19, the Chairman of the Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC), Pastor Alain Nafuki, is praying that when elected, the new Prime…

Following the national call by Caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai to the nation regarding the threat posed by coronavirus which has already arrived in nearby Fiji and New Caledonia, the Vanuatu Christian Council President, Pastor Allan Nafuki has appealed to all member churches as well …

Town Clerk of the Port Vila Municipal Council (PVMC), Mr Peter Sakita, along with the Town Planners have decided to suspend all gatherings in restaurants in Port Vila.

The Bank South Pacific (BSP) is monitoring the evolving nature of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is arranging relief packages to assist customers during this period.

Two Norfolk families have hailed the extensive efforts of a travel agent and Foreign Office staff in helping bring their loved ones home from a Pacific island as a backpacking adventure was cut short by coronavirus travel bans.

The people of Vanuatu will for the first time in the country’s history witness the official counting of a national election via live streaming today.

The 1,650 students of the Fresh Water Bilingual School, will have their ‘Home Schooling Packages’ today.

Vanuatu Non-Government Organisation (VANGO) is calling on its members, particularly those located in Port Vila, to ensure they assist local authorities to disseminate accurate information on COVID-19 through their networks.

For the first time in Vanuatu’s history, parliament sessions in the 12th Legislature will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.

People are not allowed to travel to a different island in Vanuatu by ship during the two-weeks State of Emergency (SOE) as a measure to reduce the potential risk of the deadly coronavirus as it continues to spread globally.

All public servants are instructed to attend work and perform their duties as normal during the State of Emergency (SOE) period.

Caretaker Minister for Climate Change, Bruno Leingkone, has formally requested the Office of the Maritime Regulator to suspend all inter-island shipping services in the next two weeks as part of the concerted efforts to eliminate the threat of coronavirus in Vanuatu.

Three SHEFA Provincial Government councilors have jointly donated 300 bags to different villages from North West to North Efate.

The Department of Biosecurity has penalised the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) with a fine of Vt536,000 for illegal animal imports shipped in on January 13.

The 43-year-old bakery staff who was involved in a tragic car accident which cost the lives of his two immediate families, received a suspended sentence on the charge of unintentional harm causing death.

The 33 members of the Vanuatu Police Force who were placed under quarantine for the past five days were released on Thursday this week.

The Government has introduced an order to counter the spread of inaccurate and false information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) during the two weeks State of Emergency (SOE).

China will be supplying equipment such as ventilators and test kits for Vanuatu to test COVID-19.

The SHEFA Provincial Education Office (SPEO) was burgled this week.