The Director of Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office, Shadrack Welegtebit, has been replaced, and Santo's Chief Medical Officer Dr Basil Leodoro has been suspended.
Both men had leadership positions during the recent evacuation of 11,000 villagers from Ambae Island when the Manaro volcano was threatening to erupt.
But the Editor of the Vanuatu Independent Tony Wilson says Mr Welegtabit has been offered no explanation for his unexpected removal.
Wilson told Pacific Beat that he couldn’t get any answers from the Government about the removal.
“All I now is the man who has taken over is from another sector in the public service who has no background in disaster management.”
Wilson said Welegtebit declined to comment.
“There’s got to be a lot of questions asked. The general opinion was that he did a fine job during the Ambae issue.”
Photo file. source NDMO. Caption: Residents returning home to Ambae island