Gov’t merge sports and justice ministries

Feb 17, 2025 | News | 0

The government has merged the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports (MoYDS) with the Ministry of Justice and Community Services (MoJCS).

These two separate ministries are now combined as the Ministry of Youth, Justice and Community Services (MoYJCS).

The newly elected Prime Minister (PM), Jotham Napat, signed an instrument yesterday assigning the functions for Youth Development, Sports and the Vanuatu National Sports Commission to the unified ministry.

The Daily Post was informed that the decision was implemented following approval from the Council of Ministers (COM) last year.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Paama, Job Andy, was elected as the minister for the MoYJCS. He said it is time to rebuild and to rebuild all must work together for the good of the country.

This transition signifies a new era for sports administration in the country, as sports federations adjust to operating without a dedicated ministry. The change is expected to have widespread implications, including football, which holds a dominant influence in the nation’s sporting landscape.

President of the Shefa Football Association, Michael Joseph, expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the shift, noting that sports authorities may face challenges in adapting to the new structure.

“Though the new changes come with challenges, there will be consequences faced by sports authorities, which is not good,” he said.

Joseph extended his congratulations to the minister responsible, as well as the newly sworn-in MPs and other ministers.

The order also facilitates the transfer of responsibilities, removing functions of the Maritime Affairs and the Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU), Ocean Affairs from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Biosecurity (MALFFB).

The functions are then assigned to the Ministry of Fisheries, Ocean and Maritime Affairs. The MP for Efate Rural, Jack Norris Kalmet, was appointed as the minister for the new ministry.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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