The Round Table Podcast: Episode Two

Jan 26, 2026 | PACMAS, The Round Table | 0

The Roundtable is a monthly video podcast created by Sista, supported by the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), with technical support provided by Wan Nambanga.

Each episode is hosted by Yasmine Covo, bringing onboard a guest to the table to share their perspective on the biggest issues and ideas shaping conversations in Vanuatu today—whether political, economic, or social.

To ensure the dialogue reflects the community, every episode is paired with street interviews that capture the voices of everyday Ni-Vanuatu with the mission of encouraging more people to engage with national issues and to make space for voices that matter.

Over 8 months, The Roundtable will deliver 8 full-length video podcasts, alongside short clips, articles, and social media content.

In this second episode of the Roundtable, Yasmine Covo sits down with Josepheen Tarianga, the Program Manager at Sista who is currently studying Bachelor of Law and Arts at the University of the South Pacific, who is also a former Journalist and Marketing Executive.

Their conversation explores three main topics: the bus fare increase survey, the other is the high-profile cases of members of parliament, and the By-law which has now been declared void, passed by Shefa Provincial Government Council that forbids women from operating food stalls, roadside markets or preparing food for sale during their menstruation.

This episode dives into how different locations and destinations influence one’s day to day experience of commuting to work or school or just anywhere, by bus, and what impacts the increase of bus fare to 200 Vatu (VT) will have not just on the customers but also for the bus drivers.

The discussion then turns to the high-profile cases of members of parliament who have recently been in the spotlight for various allegations of illegal acts and high-profile court cases. Rounding off the dialogue with the topic of the Shefa Provincial Government Council pass a controversial bylaw that forbids women from operating food stalls, roadside markets, or preparing food for sale during their menstruation.

Episode Highlights

Yasmine kicked off the conversation by acknowledging that it benefits the driver to see the increase from 150 vatu to 200 vatu. She then asked Josepheen what she would like to see as a consumer for that extra 50 vatu.

“I totally understand that there are costs with owning a vehicle, buses, as with every other vehicle. But first, it’s completely unfair to just look at the cost just for the vehicle itself or the vehicle owner themselves, or public transport service providers. We must also look at the other side of the coin, which is an everyday consumer and the minimum wage as well. If you’re asking for that extra 50 vatu, we really do need to see certain changes in the quality of the service itself, the quality of the vehicles that are public transport” said Josepheen.

“There’s also that option of getting meters. Other countries do it, and they’ve been very effective in making sure that the person who’s the passenger only gets to pay for what service they’re receiving. So of course, that means that if you’re going further, then you get to pay a certain price,” she continued.

The conversation touched on the recent amendment to the Public Land Transport Act, reducing the number of board members from 10 to 6. Our guest, Josepheen shared her opinions on this stating that she really thinks with this new amendment, we’re going to see these more structured prices, which is what the public is asking for, including improved in quality of the services such as clean air conditioning, safety training for the drivers, especially for the safety of women.

When asked what she thinks about the many politicians who are now facing the court, are more leaders creating more crimes or are our laws and justice system finally doing their job? She responded by saying that she “does think that this has more to do with the judiciary system becoming more effective, a crackdown on corruption.”

“People in power have been committing crimes because of that power imbalance for ages. But this time, I think it has more to do with our judiciary system being more effective.

Everybody’s taking these matters more seriously because we’re starting to become more aware of the fact that they are problems,” she added.

She further commented on how the MPs often get treated as superior to regular citizens of the country. “This big man mindset is something that we talk about a lot, you know? We put them to a certain level and then we get so frustrated when we look around and ask why this isn’t happening? Or why aren’t our leaders doing this? Or why does this keep happening? But we ourselves are the ones that allow this to continue happening because we cannot separate what is actual criticism of their leadership and their personal lives…it’s not an attack when we hold them accountable…you can’t go in and then you treat it like this is your kitchen, this is your community, this is an actual legitimate office that has committed itself to a service and to a standard that has morals and has values and you committed yourself to that. So, we must hold them accountable to that standard and to those services that they said they would deliver.”

The conversation also discussed the By- Law passed by the Shefa Provincial Council which has now been repealed. The law forbids women from operating food stalls, roadside markets, or preparing food for sale during their menstruation. This means that enforcement offices have the power to cancel food stall permits, and that any person found in violation may face a fine of up to 20,000 vatu or imprisonment for up to three months or both. The guest was asked to share her immediate thoughts on this.

“My immediate thought was that this is ridiculous. Like this, is so silly. I’ve never heard of a more unenforceable law. And when I think about how you could possibly enforce such a thing, I shiver. I don’t think there’s much more to say. I feel that that is the majority consensus on reaction to hearing this,” she said.

“I think where customs and culture are concerned, there definitely are traditions and customs for certain places where you’re not allowed to do that, or you’re not supposed to do that. And it’s something that they enforce in the home. And it’s just practice. It’s not something that’s ever been instigated in a bylaw. And the thing about that is not all cultures have that; not all customs have that as one of their practices or their teachings, but this is a Shefa by-law. It kind of covers a large amount of places, many customs, like different customs and different cultures. So, it’s like enforcing a set standard on a big group of people who don’t necessarily have the same custom,” she further stated.

Discussions also centered around the fact that for most of these women, road market is their source of income. It’s one thing to want to preserve these customs, but the reality is that people need to put food on the table and send their children to school. Who is going to compensate for the days of work missed?

Why You Should Listen to this podcast

If you are a citizen whose concerned about the different issues affecting our country, such as politicians and their misuse of public funds, to proposed changes such as the 200vt bus fare increase and development of laws that are discriminatory and unfair, this episode offers insightful thought-provoking conversation that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

About the Guest

Josepheen Tarianga is the Program Manager at Sista, where she oversees projects that empower women and young girls in Vanuatu. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Law and Arts at the University of the South Pacific. Before joining Sista, Josepheen gained experience in media as a journalist and in marketing as a marketing executive. A full-time program manager, student, and mum to a cheeky three-year-old, she balances her busy days with time spent reading, crocheting, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

Listen Now

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And check out Vanuatu Daily Post website for the full episode.

Join the Conversation

Head over to our YouTube channel and share your thoughts in the comments! We’d also love to hear what topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes of the Roundtable Podcast.

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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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The Round Table Podcast: Episode Two

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The Round Table Podcast: Episode Two

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