Pekoa landowner wants land returned if airport upgrade stalls

October 20, 2026 10:39 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Hilaire Bule.

Chief Jerome Natu, a SANMA Provincial Government Council councillor and landowner at Pekoa International Airport in Santo, says he wants his land returned if the Government is not serious about upgrading the airport.

Chief Natu said lessees had received VT350 million in compensation over more than 10 years, while he and his family were still waiting for VT370 million for the lessor’s interest in the land.

He said the Government had assessed the family’s interest at VT370 million, but they believed the land was worth more. They accepted the proposed amount because the airport upgrade was in the national interest and would benefit the people of SANMA, TORBA, PENAMA and MALAMPA.

Chief Natu said the landowners had supported the valuation because the project would allow Pekoa to accommodate larger aircraft, including Boeing planes, and support economic development in the northern provinces.

The chief said he was concerned about reports that the Council of Ministers (COM) had approved the transfer of VT1 billion for road repairs in Port Vila before the recent municipal elections, rather than supporting development priorities in the north.

Chief Natu also questioned why SANMA’s 10 Members of Parliament (MPs) had not spoken out about the reported decision.

MP for Malo/Aore Allan Liki said he was the only one of SANMA’s 10 MPs in the Opposition.

Mr. Liki said three ministers represented constituencies in the province, including one from Luganville and two from Santo, but he believed they had failed to defend the airport project during COM discussions.

He said he was frustrated by the reported transfer, particularly because the funding was absent from the 2027 Budget despite previous assurances that it would be included.

Mr. Liki said he had raised his concerns in a group chat with SANMA MPs.

He argued that the Government should recognise the economic potential of SANMA and the other three northern provinces, particularly after declaring SANMA the economic hub of northern Vanuatu.

Mr. Liki said improvements to airports at Norsup, Lonore and Motalava should complement the development of Pekoa, making it easier for visitors to travel onwards to MALAMPA, PENAMA and TORBA.

He appealed to MPs from SANMA, TORBA, MALAMPA and PENAMA to support development across the northern provinces.

Former Luganville mayor Hilton Toares also criticised the Government’s handling of the issue, saying its declaration of SANMA as the northern economic hub needed to be matched by investment in Luganville and the wider province. Mr. Toares was mayor when SANMA received that designation.

Daily Post sought comment from the Ministry of Finance yesterday.