Public Holiday

Restoring normalcy post-crises focus of Vanuatu's Children's Day

The event is part of a nine day celebration marking Vanuatu's 40th independence anniversary.

However the occasion was bittersweet in some ways.

UNICEF's Communications Officer, Rebecca Olul, said while Children's Day in the south would be festival-like, it would be different in the north.

Olul said the dual crises of April's Cyclone Harold and the Covid-19 pandemic had turned children's lives upside down.

In the cyclone-ravaged north, a third of the country's lives were put on hold including 24,000 children who had been out of school since April.

Vanuatu PM responds to criticism of extended public holiday event

The independence celebrations begin next week.

Bob Loughman was responding to criticism from the leader of the opposition that extended public holidays were ill-advised during this time of economic downturn.

Mr Loughman says the holidays were recommended and approved during the previous government which the opposition leader was part of.

The 40th Anniversary Independence Celebrations' national co-ordinator Fred Samuel says the 100-million-vatu ($US865,856) budget for the event was also passed by the previous administration.

Vanuatu celebrates Pacific Mini Games opening with Public Holiday

The Public Holiday will give the people of Vanuatu the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony in Port Vila.    

The President made the declaration on Friday under the Public Holidays Act.

Over the weekend communities in Port-Vila have joined hands to prepare for the official opening of the Pacific Mini Games.

Men, women, youths and children have been rehearsing dances and activities to make the opening ceremony a success in the Pacific Mini Games history