New ideas emerge for Port Vila’s future at public forum

Jun 23, 2025 | Initiatives and Projects, News | 0

A public forum held on Friday, June 13, at the Waterfall Bar brought together government representatives, community members, and business owners under the theme “Our Town, Our Future” to share ideas and map a collaborative path forward for Port Vila’s post-recovery development.

Organised as part of ongoing efforts to reshape the capital following recent challenges, the forum provided a platform for dialogue between the public and local authorities. The discussion focused on how communities, businesses, and government can work together to rebuild and reimagine Port Vila in a way that is functional, beautiful, inclusive, and rooted in local culture.

One of the most passionate contributions came from Adam Lopez, a well-known local business owner, who urged the Port Vila City Council (PVCC) and the Town Planning Department to open more opportunities for collaboration with the private sector.

“I want the Town Planning Department and PVCC to allow local businesses to help beautify the town, especially areas near their businesses,” Lopez said. “If it’s too much work for the Town Council, we in the private sector can step up. For example, businesses around the Waterfall Bar could join forces to clean and improve the Fatumaru Bay area right in front of us.”

Lopez, who owns six business spaces across the city, believes a mindset change is needed. “If we change our focus, we can cooperate to transform our shared spaces for the greater good with the goal of creating a safer, more attractive town.”

His comments sparked interest among attendees, particularly around the idea of a more vibrant, creative, and welcoming city environment.

“Our town is not creative enough,” Lopez said. “People are naturally drawn to places that are visually appealing. Port Vila needs to tap into that. We need more cultural experiences, more colour, more life. That means street art, better lighting, and spaces that invite people in.”

He also pointed to the potential of the town’s waterfront, especially the seafront park, which he described as underused.

“We have the space and talented local artists. Why not use these to create parks where families and children can relax and enjoy their town?”

Lopez stressed the importance of redesigning public areas to feel inclusive, dynamic, and authentically Ni-Vanuatu. He believes such changes would benefit locals and also improve the tourism experience, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore more.

The forum ended with a shared sense of optimism and urgency. Many echoed Lopez’s view that rebuilding Port Vila is a collective task. By embracing cooperation between public and private sectors, the city has a unique chance to emerge stronger, more united, and more inspiring than before.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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