Mr Ngwele said it is likely a foreign company operating in north east Efate is responsible.
He is calling on the authorities to confirm the culprit and penalize the company, saying the beetle is having a field day destroying the coconut plantations and there is nothing done to stop its onslaught.
The Daily Post reported the director general of agriculture, Moses Amos, saying his office has neither the manpower nor the funds to fight the beetle.
The government has allocated $US447,000 to deal with the pest but Mr Ngele said this is not enough.