• Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • About us
  • Business Training
  • Programs & Partners
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • EnglishEnglish
    • EnglishEnglish
    • FrançaisFrançais
    • BislamaBislama
Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Information and Advice
  • Resources
  • COVID Ready
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
News

REQUEST FROM VCCI TO OUR GOVERNMENT

Dear members,

During these challenging times, VCCI and VBRC have continued to work diligently to support the private sector and keep the private sector informed. This year VCCI and VBRC have focused on getting Vanuatu’s business community ‘COVID ready’ by providing Safe Business Operations training to thousands of business owners and operators across the provinces, ensuring businesses are informed on how to operate safely in a COVID environment. In addition, we have taken the lead to develop a range of industry Standard Operating Procedures, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, that has guided business operations to meet the required standards to operate safely and legally, in these times of COVID Alert level 3.  

More recently, we have focused on encouraging decision-makers to improve their communications and clarify COVID-19 restrictions and protocols – including providing solutions to remove barriers to the movement of cargo, access to fresh food and vegetables in Port Vila and around the islands, and advocating for curfews to be based only on Ministry of Health recommendations.

As the nation’s private sector representative body, it is the specific role of VCCI to advocate for, and act on the needs of the local business community. As such, representing our members, their employees and their families, we respectfully request that the Government take into consideration the following:

Improve communications – ensure there is one message, from one official source. Businesses are currently receiving conflicting directives from Government sources. We call for the Government to centralise its communications and provide clear and concise advice on a regular basis. We ask that the advice follows legislation, health recommendations, and not political agenda.

A plan to end curfew – we are now 5 weeks to the day since the first case of community transmission was reported. The first case was reported on 4 March in Port Vila. Restricting movement now is not lessening transmission. Wearing of masks, handwashing and social distancing is. All businesses that comply with safe business operations should be allowed to operate.

No hard lockdown – there’s little doubt that lockdowns successfully slowed COVID’s spread in the first half of 2020 in many countries, reducing cases in the first wave. We have passed the point of ‘first wave’ and where a lockdown would prove effective in slowing COVID’s spread. Employers and employees deserve the right to earn a living. Do not enforce a hard lock down on citizens already suffering economically.

Bring our Ni Vanuatu citizens home – It is estimated that over 2000 people are waiting to return from Australia and New Zealand alone. The cash injection to the local economy from the return of these citizens could generate hundreds of millions of vatu for the country, which finds its way into the pockets of our people. With unexplained exceptions being given to returning soccer players and participants of the Dubai World Expo, we ask that the Government treat all of its citizens equally and open the borders to returning citizens as soon as possible especially considering the risk of introducing COVID-19 is no longer a valid reason to hold them outside of their home country

Better management of Government appointed provincial task force decision makers – VCCI and VBRC support our provincial business members who are in need. We are hearing reports of conflicting, multi-layered restrictions being enforced by provincial task force decision makers. Current issues facing TAFEA are severe. We call for clear direction and leadership from the national level on important matters such as supply chains and shipping to remove barriers to the free movement of cargo. Currently shipping having to comply with Shefa SOPs, +OMR SOPs, + destination province SOPs which has caused the return of vital cargo to people in need and port collection of agricultural exports abandoned.

Clarify Government plans for opening of borders – according to research published last month in the ANZ PACIFIC ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Vanuatu: rebuilding the economy, if borders remain shut, there will be irreversible damage done to the economy of Vanuatu. Large employers exiting tourism. It will lead to higher deficits and debt. And heightened loan defaults and financial stability risks.

VCCI has presented to the Government a possible process for a staged ‘soft’ reopening of borders. The plan focuses on returning citizens, residents and essential working visa holders over the next 2 months before the commencement of tourist arrivals planned to be 1 July 2022. We have not yet been able to meet face to face with the Government of Vanuatu but will continue to push for this discussion to be progressed as an urgent priority.

We ask respectfully that the Government listens to its people and makes decisions based on the needs of its people, as outlined above. In times of crisis, strong leadership is required. As always, VCCI and VBRC are here to serve

 

Thank you.

VCCI team

April 8, 2022/by VCCI Editor
Tags: 2022, business, business resilience, businessdevelopment, businessinvanuatu, consultation, SMEs, supportingvanuatubusinesses, vanuatu, VBRC, vcci
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://vcci.vu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled.png 201 207 VCCI Editor //vcci.vu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/VCCI_logo_mono.png VCCI Editor2022-04-08 15:45:362022-04-08 15:45:36REQUEST FROM VCCI TO OUR GOVERNMENT
You might also like
How To Use Facebook and Instagram To Drive Sales In Business Workshop
A message from VCCI’s newly elected President, Mr. Antoine Boudier
Logo VCCILeast Developed Country Graduation implications for Vanuatu Consultation
Business News, Friday 18 March 2022
BOOK IN TO ATTEND A ‘GUIDELINES FOR SAFE OPERATIONS IN VANUATU IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC’ TRAINING WORKSHOP
Getting over the Hump – Business and Life Coach Jinny Ruben
Business News
New Approaches to Small Business Support

Recent News

  • Downloadable resources for preparing your business for the cyclone season
  • LEADING THE WAY GLOBALLY – The Vanuatu Business Resilience Council Partners With OXFAM To Implement Their Unblocked Cash Response In Vanuatu
  • Join the VCCI Givhan long Bisnis Prokram
  • Business News, Monday 31 August 2020
  • Vanuatu Economic Recovery Forum

Older News

  • November 2023 (2)
  • October 2023 (2)
  • September 2023 (9)
  • August 2023 (2)
  • July 2023 (3)
  • June 2023 (1)
  • May 2023 (3)
  • April 2023 (3)
  • March 2023 (5)
  • February 2023 (5)
  • November 2022 (6)
  • October 2022 (5)
  • September 2022 (3)
  • August 2022 (3)
  • July 2022 (3)
  • June 2022 (8)
  • May 2022 (7)
  • April 2022 (4)
  • March 2022 (17)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (3)
  • October 2021 (2)
  • September 2021 (5)
  • July 2021 (3)
  • June 2021 (6)
  • May 2021 (4)
  • April 2021 (2)
  • March 2021 (7)
  • February 2021 (3)
  • January 2021 (4)
  • November 2020 (7)
  • October 2020 (4)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (11)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (10)
  • March 2020 (7)
  • February 2020 (9)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (4)
  • October 2019 (6)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (11)
  • July 2019 (12)
  • June 2019 (10)
  • May 2019 (9)
  • April 2019 (3)
VCCI_logo

Connect

PO Box 189 Port Vila Vanuatu

+ 678 27543
reception@vcci.vu

Resources and Information

  • Document Library
  • Useful Links
  • Employer Guidebook

Subscribe

Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with our news and events.

Subscribe

Created by Savvy Vanuatu
and Lionfish Design Studios

VCCI_logo

Connect

PO Box 189 Port Vila Vanuatu

+ 678 27543
reception@vcci.vu

Resources and Information

  • Document Library
  • Useful Links
  • Employer Guidebook

Subscribe

Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with our news and events.

Subscribe

Created by Savvy Vanuatu
and Lionfish Design Studios

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL BY-LAWS RULINGPart-time role with VCCI – Project Consultant
Scroll to top