Chantilly’s on the Bay and La Casa D’Andrea to be demolished

January 9, 2025 10:07 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now Twitter Facebook

The demolition of two major buildings—Chantilly’s on the Bay and La Casa D’Andrea E Luciano—in Port Vila’s Central Business District (CBD) has been designated as a top priority.

This initiative aims to ease traffic flow and ensure business continuity in key parts of the city. Both building owners voluntarily requested demolition after conducting their own structural assessments, prompting government intervention to facilitate the process.

Further technical assessments are also required for critical buildings such as Lolam House, Olympic House, and others. These assessments are carried out in multiple stages and may involve third-party re-assessments, contributing to delays in finalising the city’s recovery plan.

The demolition is part of broader recovery efforts, with the Vanuatu Government currently reviewing progressive assessment reports on structural damage in the Port Vila CBD.

The Recovery Operations Centre (ROC), led by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), is prioritising detailed assessments and certifications of the most severely damaged buildings within the CBD to facilitate a gradual reopening of this vital economic area.

Director General (DG) Cherol Ianna Ala emphasised the importance of safety throughout the process.

“We understand that demolition is a complex, highly technical process, and it must be thoroughly investigated before proceeding,” said DG Ala. “Safety remains the government’s top priority. Our economic recovery depends heavily on how quickly and safely we can secure and clear the delimited no-go zones.”

The government remains focused on swift and secure recovery operations to restore normalcy to the Port Vila CBD.

Issuance of ROC Access Pass on hold

The Recovery Management Office has advised business owners operating in the restricted CBD area that it has ceased issuing ROC Access Cards (RAC) as of 4:30pm on Wednesday, January 8, until further notice.

The issuance of the RAC was initially recommended by the National Recovery Committee to allow business owners and their immediate supervisors limited access to inspect their offices before leaving the area. The RAC did not permit anyone to operate their businesses in the CBD.

Businesses in the CBD can resume operations once occupancy certificates are issued for their buildings by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, in accordance with the Structural Assessment Report’s recommendations.

ROC Chairman John Ezra expressed concern over the misuse of the RAC by some business owners.

“I am saddened to learn that a number of business owners with RACs have used them to access their offices and engage in business activities. This must stop immediately. Such behaviour could lead to unnecessary further restrictions,” he said.

Police have been instructed to intervene and remove the RAC from any employers, supervisors, or managers caught in the act.

The suspension of RAC issuance will also allow the ROC and police to better manage the movement of individuals into and out of the restricted zones.