The Pacific Games Council (PGC) Executive Board, led by President Vidhya Lakhan, has concluded its week of meetings in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 1-4 December.
Among the many agenda items on the PGC Executive Board’s agenda was a review of the upcoming Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games.
The 2017 Pacific Mini Games were awarded to Vanuatu in September 2011 at which time a Host Contract was entered into by the PGC, the Vanuatu Pacific Games Association (VASANOC) and the Government of Vanuatu. Since September 2011, the progress of Vanuatu’s preparations has been slow and the PGC has grown increasingly concerned about Vanuatu’s readiness and commitment to host the Pacific Mini Games in 2017.
Following an urgent meeting between the PGC and the Vanuatu delegation, including the then Minister of Sport, which was convened during the Pacific Games in Port Moresby in July, the PGC presented VASANOC and the Government of Vanuatu with a number of steps which had to be taken in advance of this week’s visit to Port Vila. Many of these steps were not taken, including:
•presentation of the construction agreements and timelines for the Chinese Government’s redevelopment of the Korman Stadium site, which will contain many of the Games venues;
•passage of legislation confirming the legal status of the VAN2017 Games Organising Committee;
•parliamentary approval of the VAN2017 Games Organising Committee’s operating budgets; and
•appropriation of the VAN2017 Games Organising Committee operating budget for 2015 to enable the appointment of a professional CEO to lead the organisation.
Without these steps being taken and with less than two years before the Games are due to commence, the PGC Executive Board’s assessment is that the Government of Vanuatu is now in default of its Host Contract obligations to financially underwrite the staging and organisation of the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.
This week, the PGC Executive Board has proposed a variation to the Host Contract, covering the points raised above, to bring the Government of Vanuatu into compliance with its obligations and enable the PGC to re-confirm that Vanuatu will organise the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.
The terms of the proposed contractual variation were presented in separate meetings with the Vanuatu Sports Minister, the Director-General of the Prime Minister’s office, a representative of the State Law Office, and today with Prime Minister, the Hon. Sato Kilman (photo attached). Support for the Games was also offered in a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition.
The Prime Minister indicated that the Government of Vanuatu remains committed to hosting the 2017 Pacific Mini Games and will, subject to clearance from the State Law Office, sign the Executive Board’s proposed Host Contract variations proposal to make the Vanuatu Government Host Contract compliant by 31 December.
President Vidhya Lakhan said, “The PGC Executive Board is leaving the shores of Vanuatu confident that all of the parties are now fully focused on their obligations and will be in a position to organise a successful gathering of the athletes of the Pacific in 2017”.
“I wish to personally thank Prime Minister Sato Kilman and the Minister for Sport for their interventions this week and sincerely hope that when the 21 other Pacific Games Associations visit Port Vila next May for our annual General Assembly, delegates will see that Vanuatu has finally begun to make real progress on preparing for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games”.