PM Napat: VT2 billion for Malekula resilient roads
May 27, 2026 10:35 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Hilaire Bule.
Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat told Members of Parliament (MPs) at a meeting yesterday at Warwick Le Lagon, focused on empowering parliamentarians to implement and advance Rio Conventions obligations at the national level, that VT2 billion from climate change funds will be allocated to build resilient roads on Malekula in MALAMPA Province.
PM Napat said that after Malekula, Santo and Malo islands will be next to benefit from the same funding.
He said islands that are yet to develop their infrastructure and have potential to support national development should benefit from climate change funds for the wider benefit of the country.
PM Napat said Malekula and Santo still have large land areas to develop and require resilient road networks.
He urged the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation (MoCCA) and the Department of Climate Change (DOCC) to speed up processes so that resilient road works on Malekula can begin.
PM Napat also defended ministry and DOCC staff against public criticism over the size of delegations sent to COP meetings.
He said one person cannot represent the country at such international climate change meetings, as multiple sessions and convention negotiations often take place at the same time, requiring full participation.
PM Napat said Vanuatu is now benefiting from its participation in these meetings and from signing international conventions.
He also proposed during the meeting that MPs could attend future COP meetings.
Vanuatu has so far signed three United Nations (UN) conventions related to climate change.
Minister of Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu said the VT2 billion allocation for Malekula resilient roads has yet to be submitted to the Council of Ministers (COM) for approval.
MPs were informed by MoCCA that work on the Malekula project is expected to begin in 2028.
Minister Regenvanu said the purpose of the meeting at Warwick was to brief MPs on the three United Nations climate change conventions Vanuatu has signed and how communities can benefit from related funding.
He said MPs have voted for bills in Parliament dealing with people’s lives and cross-cutting issues affecting communities.
The meeting also heard that VT6 billion is allocated for resilient roads and VT3 billion for water access.
It was further explained that for community funding, MPs must liaise with their respective Area Administrators (AAs) to identify projects before submitting them to the department.
Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Solomon Napuat said there are 52 MPs, and if the department funds 52 projects identified by them, it would create annual impact in communities.
Issues of sea level rise and soil erosion were also raised, including concerns about East Ambae, which is currently affected by flooding.
MPs asked whether those areas have benefited from climate change funds. MP for Malekula Marcellino Telukluk asked whether the DOCC has data on the amount of land in Vanuatu currently affected by flooding and erosion.
MP for Torres John Joseph told Daily Post he will raise the issue of impacts on Linua Island in TORBA Province during question time in Parliament, saying it needs to be heard nationally.
Linua Island was the first in the region where relocation took place. Communities were moved inland along with classrooms, health facilities, and housing.
The meeting also heard that sea level rise in East Ambae will be addressed by the department and the PENAMA Public Works Unit.
East Ambae has already lost a coconut plantation, and the Public Works Unit has relocated roads inland multiple times due to sea level rise.
It was also reported that the DOCC implemented a tree planting project to reduce the impact of sea level rise on Akhamb Island in Malekula, costing VT2 million.
The MPs’ meeting was organised by MoCCA and DOCC.
