Vanuatu’s Council of Ministers has extended the State of Emergency for another 60 days to enable authorities and the public to eradicate the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle.
The Department of Biosecurity will continue to conduct emergency response operations at North Efate.
The work is being done using approved emergency funding of $US300,000.
The ministers endorsed for all government agencies, including Police and the Office of the Maritime Regulator, to continue to assist Department of Biosecurity by providing checkpoint screening over the next 60 days.
The approved emergency fund will also be used to investigate the suspected spread of the pest in other locations such as Emae island and in South Santo.
Phase 2 of the operation involves the release of a biological control and intensive monitoring, with this being deferred to 22 October for a scheduled end in April 2020.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the beetle may have already spread to other parts of Efate and its offshore island of Emae.
Photo Dept of Biosecurity. Caption: A banner urging the public to help eradicate Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle