Napuat welcomes Ombudsman findings on MIPU Minister

April 13, 2026 10:41 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now Twitter Facebook

By Hilaire Bule.

Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanna constituency, Andrew Wilbur Napuat, has welcomed the Ombudsman report into allegations involving the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Xavier Emanuel Harry.

The Office of the Ombudsman released a public report last week, which found that Minister Harry had a conflict of interest when entering into a tenancy agreement with the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) after the 2024 earthquake.

Island Dream Housing, a company owned by the minister, received VT2.4 million in May, VT600,000 in June, another VT600,000 in July, and VT1.7 million for August to October.

The report found that Minister Harry had a conflict of interest when he entered into the agreement with VTO, as the payments supported his VT10 million loan with Bred Bank.

The Ombudsman report also found that the minister did not disclose his property to VTO before signing the tenancy agreement.

The report includes responses from VTO, the minister, and other parties mentioned as part of the evidence.

Two recommendations were included at the end of the report, calling on the Prime Minister to reshuffle Cabinet and to prosecute Minister Harry.

MP Napuat said the report should serve as a lesson for leaders to respect the rule of law.

The Tanna MP, who is also the current Opposition Whip, is the complainant in the Ombudsman investigation against Minister Harry, who is also the MP for the same constituency.

The Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday that the report is public and copies have already been delivered to government ministries and relevant authorities.

It said the report had previously been referred to the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP), but a prosecutor has now been appointed within the Ombudsman’s Office to proceed with cases based on evidence gathered during investigations.

The Ombudsman prosecutor was appointed by the OPP.

The minister and the Prime Minister’s Office have yet to respond to or comment on the report.