Elektro Club waiting for Mayor’s midnight curfew to be enforced before relocating

January 19, 2025 11:19 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Adorina Massing.

Elektro nightclub shared that they will be relocating their business outside of Port Vila if the Port Vila City Council’s (PVCC) order for all clubs to close at 12am is enforced.

Manager Ryan Galoul, a French businessman who has taken over the administration role for about 6 months, said that if they are forced to relocate to another area within Port Vila and are given the order to shut their doors at midnight, it will lead to a huge revenue loss.

“If this new rule continues for the whole year to come, then we will need to close down the club because it is too difficult if we stop at midnight,” Mr. Galoul said.

“Normally, our customers come to our nightclub around 9-10pm, even though we open at 6pm. Hence, we can’t open for just 2 hours and close at midnight; it is not possible for us.”

Mr. Galoul stressed that there are 20 staff members employed in the music bar, including bartenders, waitresses, DJs, and security. If their work hours are limited, they will need to lay off some staff members.

The manager said they will need to wait until the order is enforced before they can relocate and open their business again.

Last year, the Lady Mayor of Port Vila, Jenny Regenvanu, announced the measures to address the issue of safety and security by reducing nightclub opening hours to close at 12AM.

In a press release, the Lady Mayor stated that the office of the Clerk would work with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure this order is signed, and the PVCC wardens would work closely with the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) to provide patrols to nightclubs and check IDs, etc.

The Council is working with the relevant Ministry in assessing nightclubs that have become hotspots for illegal activities, violence, and deaths.

Galoul said it would be wise for the Mayor and her committee to consult all club owners to find alternative solutions instead of pushing businesses to the brink of shutting down or relocating outside of town.