IMPORTANT UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL BY-LAWS RULING

Dear members,

We have received a response from the Acting Director of Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) who onforwarded the legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) on the issue of the legality of the newly implemented by laws of Luganville Municipal Council (LMC) including Business Permit fee by-law and Thru-Port Entry by-law.

They have been deemed unlawful and unenforceable by the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been made aware of this issue.

LMC is now waiting on the issuing of a ministerial order to rescind the LMC by-laws of 2021, as per proper procedures.

In regards to the Port Vila Municipal Council (PVMC) by-laws, VCCI will advise all members once it has received a response from the Acting Director of DUAP on the legal advice from OAG to the Ministry of Internal Affairs on these.

We can assume that the same principles will apply to the PVMC by-laws of 2021.

We appreciate your patience as we awaited this ruling. VCCI will continue to advocate and lobby for your interests of making doing business easier and less costly in Vanuatu.

The VCCI team