Vanuatu Maritime College

The four-member Commission is comprised of three lawyers Jona Mesao, Andrew Bal, Albert Nalpini and Sombert Gereva Deputy Director Coastal, Department of Fisheries.

The members were appointed by the previous government established, through the then Minister of Justice Esmon Simon by Regulation Order No: 120 of 2022 to enquire and compile a report on the findings as mandated under the Terms of Reference.

The COI carried out its mandate under the TOR which led to extended findings that warranted serious mismanagement matters.

The 35 observers were divided into two groups with one group doing sea time at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and the other group undertaking the Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Observer Syllabus Programme.

A statement from government said each group did five weeks of intensive training before going for the second part which will take another five weeks.

Deputy Director Offshore, Edward Honiwala who officially opened the second part of the programme said the observers will spend another five weeks before completing the programme.