Tamate men repair road using basic tools

April 9, 2026 11:01 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

A group of men from Tamate village on Efate, near Klems Hill, have taken it upon themselves to repair deteriorating sections of road in their community, using only basic tools such as wheelbarrows, spades, and crowbars.

Speaking to the Vanuatu Daily Post yesterday, the men said their efforts were driven by concern for road users in North Efate, particularly vehicle owners and passengers who rely heavily on public transport.

“We feel bad for the people of North Efate and their vehicles, so we came up with this idea to fill in the potholes,” one of the men said. “We live in this area and depend on transport like buses, so we want to improve the road.”

The group has begun work on one section of the road and plans to continue towards the other side of a nearby bridge. They mentioned that this is not the first time they have carried out such repairs, as previous efforts were undone by heavy rainfall.

“We have worked on this road before, but the rain damaged it again, so we have to redo it,” they explained.

According to the men, the poor condition of the road has made travel difficult, with vehicles struggling to pass through areas riddled with potholes. They believe their initiative is helping to ease the burden on drivers and improve comfort for passengers.

“We saw that vehicles have a hard time here because there are too many holes. Maybe the government does not have enough resources to fix the road right now, so we want to help make it better for everyone,” they said.

The group also addressed public speculation that they were charging drivers for their work, strongly denying the claims.

“Some people say we are asking money from buses, but that is not true. We are not stopping vehicles or asking for money. We are just working. If someone wants to give something from their heart, that is their choice,” they said.

However, the men said they were waiting for any government vehicle to pass by, hoping to request a lorry to supply gravel for the road repairs.

Their initiative highlights ongoing concerns about road conditions in parts of Efate, particularly following periods of heavy rain.