Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corp

The company’s radio station hosted a 36-hour non-stop radiothon to raise money to buy incubators for Vila Central Hospital.

Over vt2 million in cash and vt1.4 million in kind was collected as of Monday afternoon.

The New Zealand High Commission has pledged four incubators and the Chinese Embassy has pledged funding for three incubators.

ANZ Bank Vanuatu contributed vt200,000 for an incubator.

A spokesperson for the group of redundant staff, Obed Poida, said the 14 submitted sworn statements in court on Monday.

Mr Poida said the group claimed the corporation made incorrect calculations, depriving them of overtime payments and pension contributions.

Nine other people, who were now working under a special contract for the corporation, also submitted statements in court, he said.

The chairman of the VBTC Jonety Jerety said he welcomed the proceedings and that he was ready to face the former employees in court.

Otherwise the workers could face delay in second phase of redundancy payout.

Last Monday, the Secretary General of Union, Member of Parliament for Port Vila, Ephraim Kalsakau issued a strike notice on behalf of the VBTC Union members to the Commissioner of Labour following delay in redundancy payment for VBTC staff.

The 30 days ultimatum from the VNWU calls for negotiation with the VBTC and Commissioner of Labour or face a strike action from its members at the VBTC.

The call came from the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, who is the Minister for Media, and conveyed to the recipients by the government’s Public relations Officer, Hilaire Bule last Friday.

Mr Bule confirmed he had approached the VBTC bosses and verbally relayed Prime Minister Salwai’s message that they do the honorable thing to resign.

It is understood last week the electricity provider UNELCO told customers that due to the amount of debt owed by VBTC they have had no other option but to disconnect the broadcaster's supply.

From Thursday last week VBTC used its own diesel powered generators but RNZI correspondent says fuel supply ran out yesterday. (Monday).

It is the latest in a series of setbacks for the state broadcaster with the board dumped in April amid concerns that it was not reaching the entire country.

The new chairman has promised a full nationwide service from next month.

According to RNZI, the new chairman of the VBTC board, Jonethy Jerety, said the broadcaster would launch its website at the same time.

VBTC said Radio Vanuatu's short and medium wave transmissions had reached the entire country over the past two months.