Port Vila Habour

The Assistant Plant Health Officer, Bill Garae, made the urgent call as Biosecurity Vanuatu confirmed the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle pest has reached Port Vila.

Garae said authorities face a real struggle trying to ensure the pest doesn't spread around the country.

He said ships leaving Port Vila at night will more easily spread the beetle to other islands of Vanuatu.

He has also called on residents in the capital to clean their backyards and destroy possible breeding sites for the beetle.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jay Ngwele wrote to the Habour Master and Operations Manager of Ports and Habour Department instructing the department to make the order.

In his letter sent to the senior government officials on Tuesday, Minister Ngwele stated, “It is one of the main priorities of the current Government to make sure that all ports must be clean and cleared from stranded or sunk vessels as set out in Port Act (CAP 26) and Maritime Sector Regulatory Act No. 26 or 2016.