Sista Speak Up | Opening Our Hearts and Minds to the Best and Brightest as Leaders of Vanuatu

Jul 16, 2025 | Opinion | 0

At every election, we’re asked to choose the kind of future we want for our nation—but are we truly opening our minds to who is capable of leading us there? This powerful think piece reflects on what inclusive leadership could look like in Vanuatu, and why it’s time to embrace the voices of women and youth in our highest decision-making spaces.

Read the full piece below and let us know what you think.

[Disclaimer: This is a submitted opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of Sista. We share this as part of our commitment to encouraging open dialogue and diverse perspectives on issues that matter in Vanuatu.]
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BISLAMA:

“Wanem nao yumi wantem lo fuja blong yumi long Vanuatu? Lo ol past eleksen, mi harem plente man oli stori plente se yumi sud holem taet kastom o yumi nidim change. Yumiwantem se Parliament blong Vanuatu i luk olsem olketa nakamals o fareas blong yumi? O yumi wantem wan Parliament we i gat plante different vois, espeseli vois blong ol woman mo ol yut? Spos i gat moa mama mo yut lo Parliament, bae hem i pulum down Vanuatu? O bae hem i disrespektem ancestor blong yumi, ol kastomary lida, mo wanem i impoten long komuniti blong yumi? Hemi ol challenging kwestin.

Mi stap tinkraon lo ol kwestin ia plente.

Leadership hemi no stap insaed long wan man nomo o wan mama nomo o wan olfala o wan yut. Leadership hemi wan samting we eni pipol i save gat blong mekem ol pipol i motiveited mo gat nufala tinktink mo i mekem change. I tru se lo past, kastom i putum ol man long position blonglida. Be yumi nid blo askem – hemia nao wanem i best long fuja blong yumi? Sapos i gat moa difdifren kaen tinktink lo ol lida blong yumi, bae i posibol blo yumi openem fulup opportunity blong Vanuatu? Ol mama mo ol yut oli gat plente gudfala tinktink mo ol go thru lo samsamtingdifren lo ol man mekem se oli save liftemap evriwan thru lo tinktink blo olgeta.

I tru se lo past, kastom i mekem plente important samting mo protektem ol pipol. Be taem i stapchange. Yumi save givim honor lo kastom lo wan wei we yumi no putum daon plente lo ol pipolblong yumi – speseli ol mama mo yut. Taem we yumi fokas plente lo histori, hemi holem bakyumi lo wan gudfala fuja. I gat wan Black woman America, Shirley Chisholm, i talem se, “I gat ol bigfala talent mo smat pipol we i lus lo komuniti, from nomo wan we i gat gudfala talent o gat gudfala hed i werem wan skirt.”

Blong liftemap ol mama mo ol yut, hemi blong mekem yumi stap liftemap Vanuatu olsem wan nation – from yumi evriwan yumi pat blong nation. Ol mama mo ol yut oli pruvum olgeta plentetaem finis. Oli sapotem yumi blong solvem ol bigfala problem lo komuniti. Ol mama oli gudblong mekem ol bigfala wok mo tinkbaot ol nara pipol mo famli. Taem i gat moa mama lo Parliament, i mekem govmen i gat gudfala balance mo hemi save wok gud. Mo tu, ol youngfalaoli karem ol nufala tinktink mo difdifren idea we bae i save mekem yumi save kam antap.

Hemi taem blong yumi tinkbaot wanem nao ol benefit blo lukluk ol mama mo ol yut olsem ollida. Yumi mas lukaotem olgeta we oli “the best and brightest” blong yumi blong stap putumolgeta blo lidim yumi.

Taem we yumi fokas tumas lo WIA i stap lid, instead blong fokas lo KWALITI blong wanwanman o woman olsem wan lida, yumi mistem. Yumi wantem eni kaen man o woman blongliftemap nation blong yumi. Yumi save holem taet kastom mo, at the same time, yumi liftemapevriwan, be taem we yumi fokas tumas lo past, yumi neva save muv fored.

Wanem tinktink blo yu?”
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ENGLISH:

“What do we want for the future of Vanuatu? Every election, we hear of the constant push and pull of restoring traditional values or pursuing progressive values at the highest governing body in our great nation. Do we want Vanuatu’s Parliament House to look exactly the same as our nakamals or fareas? Or do we want a more diverse Parliament, where all voices are included, especially the voices of women and youth? If we elect more women and youth, will this lead to the downfall of Vanuatu? Or will this disrespect our forefathers, our kastomary leaders, what is important to our society?

These are challenging questions.

I have been asking myself these questions a lot lately. Leadership is not defined by age or gender but by the ability to inspire, innovate, and drive change. Yes, history and kastom have prioritized men in leadership positions. But we need to start questioning – is this what is best for our future? By embracing diversity in leadership, we can harness a wealth of perspectives and talents that are essential for addressing the complex challenges facing our nation. Women and youth bring unique insights and energy that can propel Vanuatu towards a brighter future.

Historically, kastom has played a significant role in shaping how our communities work. We must honour kastomand tradition, but there are ways to do that without putting down half of the people of Vanuatu – women. Limiting leadership opportunities based on gender or age deprives us of valuable contributions from capable individuals. As Shirley Chisholm wisely stated, “Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.”

Empowering women and youth is not just about fairness; it is about tapping into a reservoir of potential that can drive national development. Women have proven their capabilities in various fields, from business to politics, and their inclusion in leadership positions can lead to more balanced and effective governance. Similarly, youth bring fresh ideas and perspectives that are crucial for innovation and progress.

It is time for Vanuatu to embrace a more inclusive approach to leadership. We must actively seek out and support the best and brightest, regardless of gender or age. This requires a collective effort to challenge outdated norms and create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to our nation’s growth.

By fostering an inclusive leadership culture, we can ensure that Vanuatu is led by individuals who are truly capable of guiding us towards a prosperous future. Let us honor our traditions while also embracing change, recognizing that the best leaders come from all walks of life.

What are your thoughts?”

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‘The scars children carry can last a lifetime’ August 13, 2026
Amid the public outrage and questions over the President’s recent pardoning of convicted rapists and the alarming increase in child abuse cases in Vanuatu, the REACH Family Centre is calling on Parliament to pass the proposed Child Protection Bill, saying stronger laws are needed to hold people who abuse children accountable. Every day at the REACH Family Centre, Mansen Roy and Salokie Narfi work alongside children experiencing challenges no child should face. Some are struggling with overwhelming stress. Others are navigating violence at home, bullying, online harm and the fear of speaking out. For Narfi, a counsellor and group work practitioner for children and adolescents, the hardest part is seeing how many suffer in silence. “Children want to come for help, but they are scared of the consequences,” she says. “Some are afraid their parents will find out. Others are afraid nobody will believe them.” Using drawing, play therapy and other child-friendly approaches, Narfi helps children express emotions they cannot find the words for. She remembers one child who repeatedly blacked out at school. “Through counselling, the child understood the emotional pain carried,” she says. “The mother also received counselling. Today that child is brighter, more confident and looking forward to the future.” But not every story has such a hopeful ending. Roy, REACH’s Acting Executive Director, says many of the challenges children face are made worse by gaps in protection and understanding. “Violence against children remains one of the biggest issues,” he says. “We should teach, guide and love children,” he says. “Wrong treatment can create trauma that children carry for their whole lives, like a scar that never goes away.” Against this backdrop, REACH is pushing for the proposed Child Protection Bill to reach Parliament and become law. Both Roy and Narfi say the legislation would strengthen their work by creating a clearer approach to responding when children are at risk of serious harm, including sexual abuse. It would also help place children’s wellbeing at the centre of decision-making. “This Bill will support our work in the field,” Mansen says. “The justice system punishes perpetrators, but what about the survivors? Children also need healing, psychological support and protection to move forward into the future.” Narfi says the law would also ensure serious cases of abuse are recognised early and responded to properly. “Children are the future of the country,” she says. “If this Bill passes, we can build a stronger Vanuatu with children who are supported, protected and able to become the future leaders of our nation.” REACH is one of the few organisations in Vanuatu providing holistic support to entire families, working with mothers, fathers and children together because lasting change begins at home. Yet the demand for counselling and mental health support continues to grow, while resources remain limited. Roy believes passing the Child Protection Bill is no longer simply a legal decision – it is a moral one. “Child protection affects everyone because every one of us was once a child,” he says. For the children who are too frightened to speak, and for those still carrying invisible scars, the time to act is now. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Man remanded over alleged sexual assault of four-year-old girl August 13, 2026
A man from Tanna has been remanded in custody after being charged over the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl at Salili on Efate last week. The accused, identified in a remand warrant as Simeon Tom Yatika, appeared before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court on 11 August 2026. He is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse, contrary to section 97(1) of the Penal Code [CAP 135]. The prosecution applied for the accused to be held in custody, and the court granted the application. The warrant directs the officer in charge of the Correctional Centre to keep Yatika in custody until his next appearance on 25 August 2026 at 9am. A source close to the Magistrates’ Court said the court was informed that the alleged victim suffered injuries and experienced difficulty using the toilet after the incident. The court also reportedly heard that the accused had been receiving mental health care but had not attended medical appointments for some time. The circumstances surrounding that information remain matters for the court and relevant medical professionals to consider. The allegations have not been tested at trial. The accused has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case has caused concern and renewed public frustration over the protection of children and the handling of sexual offence cases in Vanuatu. Many members of the public are expected to question whether vulnerable children are receiving adequate protection, medical care and support after alleged abuse. The case also comes amid wider criticism from women’s groups over the treatment of child sex offenders and calls for stronger safeguards in decisions involving pardons and accountability. Women’s groups have recently urged the Government to review the presidential pardon process following the pardoning of men convicted of sexually abusing children. Community members have called for the justice system to respond firmly to allegations involving children, while also stressing the importance of allowing the courts to assess the evidence fairly and independently. Under Vanuatu law, sexual intercourse with a child under 13 is a serious criminal offence, with the law providing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The prosecution must nevertheless prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt before a conviction can be entered. The matter remains before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court. The child’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Cervical cancer preventable, yet a leading cause of death among Vanuatu women August 12, 2026
Minister of Health Robert Bohn said cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women in Vanuatu, yet it is entirely preventable through vaccination, screening and early treatment. Speaking at the official launch of the Vanuatu National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy 2026–2035 yesterday, Minister Bohn said access to these highly effective prevention measures had previously been limited or unavailable in Vanuatu. As a result, women were often diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment options were limited and survival rates were lower. Minister Bohn said the launch reaffirmed a collective commitment to ensuring women and girls have access to prevention, screening and treatment services, with their health, dignity and future at the centre of the national effort. “The Vanuatu Strategy aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem and its 90-70-90 coverage targets: 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with HPV by age 15; 70 per cent of women screened with an HPV test or other high-performance test by ages 35 and 45; and 90 per cent of women with cervical pre-cancer treated and women with invasive cancer appropriately managed,” he said. The Minister of Health said the Government of Vanuatu, through this strategy, is reaffirming its commitment to achieving these goals by 2035. Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu now has accessible, culturally appropriate and scalable approaches to prevention, and together the country can make a difference for women and families across the country. “The country has already made significant progress on this pathway, and today I would like to acknowledge the persistence, advocacy and hard work of health and community workers to reduce the preventable burden, incidence, illness and death caused by cervical cancer,” he said. “An opportunistic screening programme has existed since 2008, with national Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening implemented in 2022, and close to 20,000 women screened to date. The hard work of the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, the Vanuatu Family Health Association and the Ikkana Cancer Society has meant that access to screening has been made available across all provinces, with over 3,500 women receiving treatment.” Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu is also protecting girls from cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, with the national HPV vaccination programme beginning in 2023 and 16,412 girls vaccinated to date. He said this ensures that today’s girls grow up protected, empowered and free from a disease that previously often arrived too late for treatment. “With continued awareness and coordinated delivery strategies, communities learn that the HPV vaccine protects their children and they therefore want their children to be vaccinated,” he said. “As we endorse this document, we acknowledge the journey of women and families affected, the conscientious efforts of health and community workers to improve health outcomes and the valued collaboration of international partners which strengthens our progress. “The Strategy presents a roadmap to strengthen and sustain current efforts, prioritising primary health care, public health approaches and people-centred service delivery tailored to the Vanuatu context.” Minister Bohn said sustained progress would require long-term, sustainable financing and continued coordinated efforts across sectors and disciplines to ensure Vanuatu remains on the path to eliminating cervical cancer. He said the Government of Vanuatu is committed to ensuring activities are adequately coordinated, funded and maintained over time. “Government commits to ensuring that no woman is left unseen, no girl unprotected, and no life lost to a preventable disease,” he said. The senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, medical lead for the cervical cancer screening programme and chairperson of the development of the cervical cancer elimination strategy, Dr Boniface Damutalau, said the document launched yesterday provides a roadmap for combating cervical cancer. He said cervical cancer screening began in 2022 using new technologies to detect pre-cancerous lesions, and the launch of the strategy provides guidance for screening, vaccination, treatment and sustainability of the programme through to 2035. “It’s a document that helps us with a roadmap of how we do our screening, our vaccination, our treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, and also it will help us with the sustainability of the programme for the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. Dr Damutalau said available data shows around 18 per cent of women have HPV infection, although he believes the figure could be higher because the hospital continues to see two or three new cervical cancer cases each month. He explained that the best way to prevent cervical cancer is through immunisation of young girls aged around 9 to 14 years and regular screening. Dr Damutalau said screening is the only way to detect cervical cancer early, allowing treatment to begin before the disease progresses. He said Vanuatu can currently treat stage 1 cervical cancer locally, while women with more advanced stages must travel overseas for further treatment. “There are a lot of challenges. I think the biggest ones that we encounter are that Vanuatu is very sparse, with different islands, so there is a lot of geography we have to go through, and human resources are also one of the important things that we combat every day,” he said. “Human resources across ministries are not enough, but we always try to reach as far as where women live, from remote places in the north down to the south.” Dr Damutalau acknowledged the efforts made by women who come forward to clinics for screening. He said there are currently two clinics providing services, one in Port Vila and one in Luganville. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and once a woman becomes infected, the virus can change cells on the cervix, causing them to become cancerous. Dr Damutalau said most HPV infections clear naturally, but some remain and can increase the risk of cervical cancer. He said about 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, which is why vaccination and early screening are important. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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More boys than girls drop out of school August 12, 2026
More boys than girls are dropping out of secondary schools in Vanuatu, with TORBA Province recording the highest dropout rate. Boys are repeating grades more than girls at both primary and secondary levels across all provinces, and TORBA Province again has the highest repetition rate. These findings were conveyed by the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), John Gideon, in his presentation to set the tone for discussions at the National Education Forum in Port Vila. He said more boys are leaving school for reasons beyond the classroom, such as the cost of education, distance to school and boarding challenges. In 2016, Vanuatu came up with a policy requiring children to start formal primary school at age 6. Director Gideon revealed that the net enrolment rate has been declining since 2023, with girls recording a higher rate while boys’ participation remains lower. Girls also recorded higher gross enrolment rates than boys at every level. Director Gideon also mentioned that the education system is not retaining students, especially at the secondary level. He said about 41 out of every 100 children who start Year 1 remain in school by Year 6, and only about 5 out of every 100 continue through to Year 13. Director Gideon highlighted that the number of early childhood centres has decreased since 2022, primary schools have remained stable, while secondary schools have grown the most, with 67 new schools established since 2015. “There are over 5,400 teachers, but they are not where the students are,” he said. SHEFA, TAFEA and SANMA have the most senior secondary schools, while TORBA faces a severe shortage of junior secondary teachers. Director Gideon encouraged participants at the forum to examine what the data reveals about boys’ engagement in the education system, how to increase enrolment in early childhood and the relationship between enrolment and student progress. Currently, 104,510 students are enrolled across more than 1,000 registered schools in Vanuatu. However, Director General Cherol Ala pointed out that not all children are in school, highlighting the need to improve access, enrolment and participation. While literacy and numeracy outcomes continue to decline, she said monitoring of the nationwide Curriculum Improvement Program (CIP), launched last year, is showing improved outcomes in student learning. Other challenges she mentioned include student and teacher attendance, high dropout rates, limited access to formal training and qualifications, school infrastructure, access to schools and rolling out internet connectivity. She reminded everyone about the ministry’s mission to provide young people with lifelong skills, values and confidence to become self-reliant and contribute to development. Throughout the four-day National Education Forum, government leaders, educators and partners have discussed what has not worked and what needs to be done to improve education outcomes. The forum ends today. 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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Sista Speak Up | Opening Our Hearts and Minds to the Best and Brightest as Leaders of Vanuatu

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Sista Speak Up | Opening Our Hearts and Minds to the Best and Brightest as Leaders of Vanuatu

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