Restricted CBD access limited to 8am-3:30pm

January 7, 2025 10:24 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

The Recovery Operations Centre (ROC) has announced stricter measures to manage movements in the restricted Central Business District (CBD) area effectively.

Under the new guidelines, the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) officers stationed at CBD entry points will only permit individuals holding an ROC Access Pass to enter or leave between 8:00am and 3:30pm daily. The police will have a comprehensive list of business owners authorised to hold an Access Pass.

ROC Chairman John Ezra explained that at the entry points, business owners, managers, and supervisors must undergo a verification process. This includes signing a disclaimer form before receiving a temporary police access pass, which must be returned upon leaving the restricted area.

Ezra emphasised that the government and the ROC will not bear responsibility for any incidents within the restricted area.

“Anyone found misusing an ROC Access Pass—whether lending it to another person or using it for unauthorised purposes—will have their pass revoked and will not be eligible for a replacement,” he warned.

These measures are designed to improve oversight and ensure better management of movement within the restricted CBD zone, which remains without water and electricity.