Vanuatu daily news digest | 22 February 2014 by bobmakin The last lands awareness discussions have been held at north and east Efate. Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu has attended the sessions together with Malvatumauri and Lands personnel. The new processes for leasing have been explained in detail as well as the reformed procedures for dealing with disputes. Community leaders have been appreciative - and said as much to VBTC News - of the means chosen to prevent the kinds of lands dealings which have proved unmanageable in the past. Development of the geo-thermal project at Takara can proceed to the next step following a meeting which was said by VBTC News to have brought together all the communities of Takara this week. The CEO of Geo Dynamics, the company responsible for Kuth Energy, and Prime Minister Kalosil signed an agreement in the presence of the communities. The work is proceeding to full study status. Representatives of the high commissions of New Zealand and Australia were present, along with chiefs and people. The capital is to see a six-storey shopping mall at Centrepoint mid-town. The VNPF will be part owner together with Bred Bank. The area (the former supermarket and parking and the space which has housed women vendors) has been purchased from the Bourgeois family for reportedly VT 800 million Daily Post tells us today. Port Central will be the name of the new complex which will have two stories for shopping mall, two for parking and two for offices. Caillard & Kaddour is engaged in the planning and Daily Post has artists impressions of the finished building. Disaster communications have improved greatly. Volunteer Simon Donald (with VSA) points out that Vanuatu is the first country in the region to have a text message disaster response system. The NDMO has relied on reports which can take long time to come and the new system will enable community leaders to assess damage and report quickly. A community medical centre on Pentecost has been established through ten years of fund-raising by Pentecost people. Dr Richard Leona told VBTC News that an NGO in Australia gave theatre equipment to assist the new clinic. Leona pointed out that the increasing population on the island and greater incidence of disease made the clinic a necessity. Parliament is expected to consider removing the Speaker we are told by the Opposition in Daily Post when the House meets on Monday for the no confidence vote.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 13:57:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015