The Australian film, a love story, was shot on the southern Vanuatu island of the same name and featured an entire cast of actors from the Yakel tribe all of whom had never seen let alone acted in a feature film before.

It was nominated in the best foreign film category which was won by The Salesman.

Hundreds gathered at the national conference centre in Port Vila yesterday to watch the Academy Awards live and support the film.

Media director of the Vanuatu newspaper the Daily Post, Dan McGarry was at the live screening.

He said there was a subdued atmosphere in the conference centre after the winner was announced, but the crowd rallied when the main characters of the film got up to thank them for their support.

"They are hugely proud, you should have heard the applause when Dain and Wawa the two lead characters in the movie. When they took the stage there was really a heartfelt outpouring of applause and it is clear that the people of Tanna are immensely proud of their achievement."

The agreement was signed Tuesday in Hong Kong between Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and the Director of Hainan Airlines Group Board of Directors, Hainan Airlines Travel Industry Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Xin Di.

Among the attendees at the signing ceremony were Vanuatu Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Bruno Leingkone; Minister of Justice, Mr. Arnola Kiel Loughman; Ambassador Plenipotentiary to China, H.E. Nguk Yang Dennis Nai; the Director of HNA Group Board of Directors and HNA Tourism Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Xin Di; and lastly Hainan Tourism Investment Group Chiarman, Mr. Liu Jiangtao. 

"In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists to Vanuatu has risen year after year; the annual growth rate has maintained at 4%. In 2016, there were thousands of Chinese tourists who visited Vanuatu either by plane or cruise,” PM Salwai said.

“Through cooperation with HNA Tourism we hope to further develop the tourism resources of Vanuatu and improve the infrastructure to provide a more comfortable tourism experience for Chinese tourists. The year 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vanuatu and China and we also hope that we can, through this initiative, further deepen the Vanuatu-China friendship."

The Director of HNA Group Board of Directors and HNA Tourism Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Xin Di said, Vanuatu is a holiday paradise in the South Pacific; it is also a crucial south node for the '21st Century Maritime Silk Road.' 

“As a subsidiary of HNA Group's largest air travel industry unit, HNA Tourism will use its aviation, hotels, travel agencies, entertainment and other cultural resources to promote the development and upgrading of the tourism industry in Vanuatu. In addition, this will provide Chinese travellers with more options for outbound destinations." 

Such cooperation will foster communication and consultation for the opening up of new airline routes. HNA Tourism will push forward its subsidiary outbound listed travel company, Caissa, to carry out active cooperation in areas such as product development, infrastructure transformation, route operations, hotel operations and the promotion of Vanuatu as an outbound travel destination.

The program was launched in Port Vila Tuesday.

Australia says it is pleased to provide four more years of support to the Vanuatu Police Force, the Judiciary and justice sector agencies and the Ministry of Justice and Community Services.

The program will continue to have a strong focus on improving access to justice for women and children survivors of violence.

The new phase of support will increase the focus on policing and justice services in targeted rural and remote areas.

Photo Aust HC Vanuatu

Fiji has now confirmed 143 cases, Nauru has confirmed more than 50, and 13 have been confirmed in American Samoa.

That follows outbreaks in Solomon Islands which has had more than 10,000 dengue cases in the last seven months, and in Vanuatu which has had more than 1700 cases since November.

RNZ reports in New Caledonia three people have died and a health emergency has been declared as more than 1-thousand cases have been recorded since September.

Another man is in hospital after the tension, and RNZ reports that women and children in the area had been moved to central Pentecost for their safety.

A police team was dispatched to South Pentecost earlier this week.

They were appealing to the community of Bunlap village on South Pentecost and other nearby villages not to take the law into their own hands and let the police deal with the situation.

It hosts some of the most exciting and unusual festivals in Vanuatu.

Local tour specialist Malampa Travel said there are three upcoming festivals that people should not miss.

They are the Yam and Magic (YM), and the Back to My Roots (BTMR) Festival at Olal village, and Rom dance (RD) festival in Fanla Village – both taking place in North Ambrym.

Speaking to the Independent this week, Chief Joacsin Sekor responsible for the YM and BTMR festival said that the festivals only happen once a year.

“The YM festival is an annual two days and is especially about yam,” he said. “This is a time where all yams are being harvested and brought together for a special yam dance.

“There are many kinds of yams and you will get to hear stories of how yam is planted, how many yams were being planted and also witness custom dances, watch demonstrations of intricate sand drawing and encounter different kinds of ritual magic.”

Freddy Roromial, the main organiser for the RD festival in Fanla, said the festival usually takes place once a year.

“The participants dancing in the RD is more than 10 and is mainly the villagers take part in that,” he said.

“Anyone interested in wanting to be part of this festival is welcome to join; the normal age for dancing is 18 years upwards.

“There are four of us in Fanla who will be currently working on the masks by the end of May to prepare for July.”

Mr Roromial said the Rom dance is an initiation dance used in the grade taking ceremonies called Maghe, to enable advancement to higher levels within the tribal social structure. It is traditionally performed for ceremonies like circumcisions, appointments of chiefs, the yam harvest, etc.

He said this dance is not just a show but a real ceremony.

“These will be a festival for two days, July 21-22,” he said.

“On the first day there will be many activities like the traditional bamboo music, mouth organ playing, traditional cooking, weaving demonstrations and powerful magic. The second day is for the official RD.”

Chief Sekor said the BTMR festival normally happens over three days.

“The festival is on August 25-27 and there are many different kinds of custom dances like the Namangi dance or the women custom dances,” he said.

“The dances are all different from each other and there are also other interesting activities taking place like the tam tam drumming, magic shows, flute demonstrations and traditional sand drawings.

“The festival ends with a highlight of the entire festival which is the signatory dance of Ambrym, the RD.”

Photo: Rom dance (RD) festival in Fanla Village (The festival features welcoming custom dances, tam tam drumming, magic shows, flute demonstrations and sand drawings)

The 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, was told that Indonesia has not curtailed or halted various widespread violations.

Vanuatu's Justice Minister Ronald Warsal was speaking on behalf of his country and six other Pacific nations: Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands

"We note that in the past 15 years, the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights has collected evidence of gross human rights violations by Indonesian security forces in three principle areas of West Papua: Wasior, Wamena and Paniai."

Mr Warsal said the Commission described the sets of cases in the first two places as crimes against humanity, which are punishable under Indonesian and international laws.

He referenced reports of extrajudicial executions of activists and the arrests, beatings and fatal shootings of peaceful demonstrators, including high school students; as well as persistent violence against Papuan women.

The Vanuatu minister said Indonesia's government had not been able to deliver justice for the victims.

"Nor has there been any noticeable action to address these violations by the Indonesian government, which has, of course, immediate responsibility and primary accountability," he said.

He also mentioned the marginalisation of West Papuans in the face of steady migration to the region by people from other parts of Indonesia.

"We want further to highlight another broad aspect of human rights violations - the Indonesian government policy over many decades and continuing until today of the migration of non-indigenous Papuans to West Papua, leading to a dramatic decline in the percentage of the indigenous Papuan population."

Denial by Indonesia

Indonesia's delegation to the UN mission in Geneva has issued a reply, saying it categorically rejects the allegations voiced by Vanuatu's Justice Minister.

It said Mr Warsal's address does not reflect the real situation on the ground, accusing Vanuatu of "using human rights issues to justify its dubious support for the separatist movement in Papua".

In a statement, Indonesia said its record on the promotion and protection of human rights spoke for itself.

"This includes our co-operation with various UN Special Procedures and Mandate Holders, as well as various collaborative endeavours at bilateral, regional and multilateral level including within the Human Rights Council in strengthening human rights mechanisms as well as in the promotion and protection of various basic human rights."

"As a matter of fact, this year Indonesia will welcome the visits of two Special Rapporteurs, and present our third UPR report this coming May."

Earlier, Mr Warsal referred to a series of recent pronouncements by mandate holders of the UN Council about serious Indonesian violations of the human rights of indigenous Papuans.

These included representations by UN Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the rights of indigenous peoples; the Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and the Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Indonesia's government, however, said it had always endeavoured to address any allegation of human rights violation as well as taking preventative measure and delivering justice.

'Domestic' issues

The Indonesian government again sent a message to Vanuatu that it should stay out of what it regards as its own domestic matters.

Jakarta said that Vanuatu's government should not divert its focus from addressing its various domestic human rights problem by politicising the issue of Papua for its domestic political purposes.

"In this regard, the Indonesian Government is prepared to work and co-operate with the Government of Vanuatu in their efforts to address various human rights violation and abuses against the people of Vanuatu" said the statement.

These abuses, according to Indonesia, included "violence against women, corporal punishment against minors, appalling prison condition, including torture of prisoners, and other challenges".

However, the seven Pacific nations have called on the UN Human Rights Council to request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a consolidated report on "the actual situation in West Papua".

Among other provisions, Mr Warsal said the report should also detail the various rights under the International Bill of Human Rights and the related conventions, including the right to self-determination.

"We believe that challenges of West Papua must be brought back to the agenda of the United Nations," said the Vanuatu minister on behalf of the Pacific countries.

 Sandfish, a type of sea cucumber, are found in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific region. 

Aquaculture Solutions Vanuatu’s (ASV) hatchery will have the capacity to produce tens of thousands of juveniles for release on adjacent shore habitats around Havannah Harbour and Moso.

The hatchery was constructed in partnership with the Vanuatu Fisheries Department and the Pacific Community (SPC) with support from the Government of Australia.

“This hatchery took six weeks to complete and Vanuatu’s Department of Fisheries is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with ASV which enables the company to harvest sandfish while reserving a percentage of stock for natural breeding. Benefits from this arrangement will flow to coastal communities who will be engaged in the harvest of sea cucumbers after they are released,” SPC’s Mariculture and Aquatic Biosecurity Specialist, Dr Michel Bermudes, said.

Most sandfish, which are either captured or cultured, are harvested and processed into beche-de-mer and this dried form accounts for 95 percent of all sea cucumber species traded annually in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea and Japan.

Average retail prices in Hong Kong are USD300 per kilogram and can fetch up to USD1600 per kilogram depending on the quality of the product.

“This type of hatchery provides a sustainable low-tech and low-cost template, a tool for stock enhancement and for marine aquaculture capacity building in Vanuatu. In time, this model can be replicated in other places where sandfish stock enhancement is also needed,” Dr Bermudes said.

SPC has also recently undertaken an initiative in partnership with the World Bank to assess the sea cucumber value chain, production and harvest data in the Pacific’s Melanesia region, with the intention to explore the possibility of establishing a sub-regional beche-de-mer Trust to manage and monitor the exports of high value sea cucumber from the Pacific.

Photo: Sandfish

Papua New Guinea na Solomon Islands i nogat ofisal luksave long ol kastom chief.

Tasol long Vanuatu, gavman i luksave long wok blong ol chief na i makim naba 5 long March long ogeta yia, olsem Custom Chief's Day na em i wanpela pablik holide.

March naba 5 em i long aste Sunday, so tede nau em i pablik holide long Vanuatu.

Moa longen, Vanuatu gavman i kamapim tu wanpela National Council of Chiefs we ol i kolim 'Malvatu Mauri' we i save givim tingting long gavman long sait long kastom na kalsa.

Public Relations Ofisa long Office blong Praim Minista, Hilaire Bule i tok wok politik em i samting we i save brukbrukim kantri, tasol ol chief nau i save kamapim unity.

Photo ABC

Serah Tari ibin autim despla toktok long wik igo pinis taem emi bin raon long Australia wantem wanpla laen meri blong Papua New Guinea.

Ol despla meri ibin raon long Sydney, Canberra na Melbourne we oli bin bungim na toktok wantem ol bisnis laen long traem painim maket we ol meri blong despla tupla kantri iken salim ol products olsem ol bilum na ol handicrafts.

Gavman blong Australia i sapotim despla project.

Serah Tari itokim Radio Australia  olsem  planti long ol memba blong Association isave stap long biktaon Port Vila, tasol igat ol narapla meri tu long ol rural eria i memba blong association     

Witnessing the event will be the presidents of the 20 Island Councils, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, diplomats and the general public of Port Vila.

RBNZ reports the event will include elaborate custom ceremonies which have not been since the original opening of the Traditional Meeting Place almost 40 years ago.

The original thatch roof of the building was wrecked by Cyclone Pam two years ago.

The restoration, which cost $US181,000 was financed by the Cyclone Recovery Funds.

He is sending the latest information on crop production back to Port Vila to guide decisions about crop availability.

Vanuatu’s Extension Officers are being equipped and trained to respond to disasters and plan for improved resilience with practical training and “know-how.”

Radio Vanuatu reports Paul Worwor, Information Officer in the Risk and Resilience Unit (RRU) of the Ministry of Agriculture has delivered training for Extension Officers on new smartphones purchased by the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for all Extension Officers. Using a program called “Kobo Toolbox,” the Agricultural Officers were taught how to set up APN on mobile phones for internet connection, switching on the data connection and signing up for data plans on the TVL network.

“It’s an innovative tool to ensure reporting of accurate information on crops and animal production to allow evidence based decision making in times of disasters,” Worwor said.

“The Extension Officer can stand with a farmer on her land, key in the types of crops and growth stage and text it back to our office for recording and analysis. When you’re an Extension Officer on an island – it’s far easier that writing and posting a written report – quick, accessible, recordable and able to be analysed for rapid response.”

“I only wish I’d known about this before Cyclone Pam” commented one of the participants at the Workshop delivered by the technical staff of the Risk and Resilience Unit.

Lawrence Nimoho RRUs Food Security & Nutrition Officer agreed, “Our Extension Officers have been targeting growing more and more root crops to increase our preparedness and resilience after a disaster but we must make it really clear we need to promote a balance diet of vegetables and fruit as well after a cyclone.”

Agricultural Assistance Officers (AAO’s) including some senior Agriculture technical officers of SHEFA province travelled in from the islands to participate in a two-day awareness and advocacy workshop on Climate Change/ Disaster Risk Reduction (CC/DRR) and Food & Nutrition Security Preparedness.

The aim of this training was to increase Vanuatu’s preparedness and resilience in the agriculture and food security sector by increasing and improving the access of agricultural extension officers to farmers. The training has improved the DARD Extension Officers knowledge, skills and technical resources to improve and adapt the farming systems of women and men farmers in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience.

Sheryl Mahina, the RRU-GIZ CCDRR Officer led the attendees through methods to identify, promote, communicate and harmonize and coordinate delivery of good practices across all agriculture extension services, including Non-Government Organisations active in the primary production sectors. Mahina explained, “It’s not just about growing food but preserving it for use in tough times plus we need good information flowing back to agricultural officers so we know who has planted what crops, how much and when it will be ready for harvest. In this way, if one area is devastated by a cyclone or drought, we can organise food from unaffected areas that’s ready to be harvested to be shipped to the needy areas.”

“It’s all about increasing resilience to disasters with the right tools and knowledge,” explained Joshua Mael, Manager of RRU.

Photo: Agriculture Officers from North Efate, Epi, East Efate and Emae with their Smart Phones collecting vital agricultural data.

The new complex was opened last week by government officials including the private secretary of the Minister of Education, Acting director of Education Services and the PEO of Shefa province.

The SCA or School Community Association remained very committed to making this dream became a reality.

VNS community consist of over one thousand students and 45 staff members.

Photo supplied 

The dispute claimed one life and two others needed hospital treatment.

RNZ reports twelve police officers were deployed to South Pentecost last week to deal with the tension between the communities of Londar and Bunlap village.

The police media unit said the officers had since witnessed a reconciliation ceremony between the warring communities.

Police said three of the suspects would be charged with murder and seven others with unlawful assembly, damage to property and criminal trespass.

World Vision trained local builders to build the new cyclone-resistant community kitchens as part of the Build Back Better (BBB) program.

An article by World Vision in Vanuatu reports the community kitchens were handed over to female leaders from each community. This is a big development step for women on the island.

Chairman of Simanlo Island Council, Chief Willie Netai, said, “Today women can now make money from the kitchens and it’s a big improvement for all the villages on the island.”

The kitchens have two smokeless stoves to reduce the risk of fire burns and respiratory illness. They also have pantries, tables, kitchen sinks, ground ovens, water tanks and their own ventilated improved pit toilets.

The community kitchens give women a space to come together, cook and learn from each other. The kitchens have helped women and their families recover from Cyclone Pam, which is now approaching its second anniversary.

For Rutha, 36 year-old mother of six, the community kitchen is where she earns money to support her children. “With this development in my village, when I am not cooking, I spend my time in the garden growing local crops and vegetables to support my small business”, Mrs Tangar said.

“Before it was very hard for me to make an income to support my family but thanks to the BBB project, I earn around AUD$70 weekly by selling vegetables and other crops and I can also meet my children’s school fees”, she said.

Women’s associations in the different communities are privileged to manage the kitchen operations. The kitchens enable the development of independence skills such as food production.

In addition to that, women and children were taught about the importance of hand washing by the World Vision team and also provided with safe and hygienic food storage. Women who use the community kitchens pay a small daily fee, of AUD 60 cents, that contributes to their maintenance.

A total of 600 women are benefiting from the community kitchens.  The women are looking forward to building a market house from where they can sell their produce.

Photo by World Vision Vanuatu 

But at the same time demand for the traditional brew is growing in lucrative international markets, so governments in the Pacific are urgently seeking ways to produce more kava of the best quality.

In Vanuatu, the government has amended the Kava Act to ensure only high-potency varieties that are good enough for export can be grown, but Dr. Vincent Lebot from the Department of Agriculture says turning the industry around will take time.

Dr. Vincent says they observed a shortage of kava in the local market from mid last year and the prices, including a kilo of fresh kava went through the roof.

He told Pacific Beat that farmers in Vanuatu need to change their traditional cultivation practices to be able to meet the growing demands both locally and regionally. 

Her aim is to for Vanuatu’s products to take their place on the international stage and thus stepped up to lead the group. Ms Wylie is leading the Vanuatu delegation.

“It is not about me but the opportunity for emerging exporters to be able to access a market that is both hungry for Pacific Island products but also matched to the capacity of supply,” she said.

“I look on leading this delegation as a mother mentor, I want to see Vanuatu exporters be successful.  I believe that Vanuatu products are the best and we are the nutraceutical capital of the South Pacific.

“The build-up is like taking a leap from a plane and making sure we have the parachute firmly on our backs.”

Ms Wylie’s company produces eight different products that will appeal to the New Zealand market who are keen on the clean and green aspects of products.

Natur’kai are pouches of cassava, kumara, taro, plantain, coconut cream, smoked spices. The packs come in a two-piece pillow pack of 360gms.

Being a little saucy is Spicy’kai – Cannibal sauce. It is made with five different chilis, tomato, papaya and organic spices from the spice network in the remote Northern islands of Vanuatu. It comes in 320 gm spout pouches.

There are also three juices in the range: F Juice which is made of Feijoa juice and packed with natural fibre and flavonoids from the Feijoa fruit. Wild limes from the Eco Farm is used to make lime juice. The juice is squeezed under nine tons of pressure and filtered to remove seeds. No sugar or water is added making it a potent lime juice mix. Lime juice is packed in 320ml and one litre spout packs. Pineapple juice is a premium quality – no added sugar and made only from fresh fruit with a bright clear taste.

Ms Wylie says she has been a beneficiary of Pacific Trade & Invest support in the past.

“I know first-hand how important the role is that PT&I have played. For the Pacific Path to Market – [PT&I] are the parachute on our backs. It is the gentle guidance to the landing zone so that we can hit the ground running.”

Ms Wylie says there are three outcomes she would like to achieve from the Pasifika Festival participation.

Firstly – to raise the profile of Vanuatu of what the country can also offer apart from a tourist destination – “Our roots are in agriculture.”

For the delegation, Ms Wylie said she would like to see closer collaboration of exporters and networking within the country to meet buyers’ expectation as well as a bringing back knowledge of the next steps in export.

Finally, for her own company, Fine Foods Limited she would be keen to sign up one distributor for at least one product line.

Ms Wylie added, “I am looking forward to meeting up with some old faces and making connections with new ones.”

“The Pacific is one big family, we are individuals but we share so much in common. If everyone comes together with open heart it (Pasifika) will be a fantastic learning experience.”

Welcoming the Vanuatu delegation, Michael greenslade, PT&I Trade Commissioner said, “Helo long yufala! We are delighted to have the delegation from Vanuatu here this year.  Vanuatu has been very much a front of mind country over the last 18 months with the severe natural disasters this resilient country has had to put up with.

“This resilience reflects well on its government, its economic development agency and their private sector and PT&I looks forward to rewarding that resilience with our 100% support.

Photo Facebook Vanuatu Direct Ltd

The small company is part of the Vanuatu delegation on the Pacific Trade & Invest (PT&I) NZ Pacific Path to Market delegation which will be at the Auckland Pasifika Festival in March 25-26.

With just three employees, the company is new to the market and is only producing kava products.  However, New Zealand is on its radar for international exports, along with Australia and Europe.

Their first step however is to learn more about the New Zealand Kava market and what the entry requirement are. But part of that process is to attend the Pasifika Festival where several kava producers will also be exhibiting their wares.

Kava Du Pacific dried kava powder uses 40 local farmers to grow the Noble variety of kava on the island of Pentecost – an island renowned in Vanuatu for growing the biggest kava roots. John Mahit is one of the Company Directors who says the company aims to produce top quality kava using strong analysis and traceability. The company recently invested in a testing facility on Pentecost that allows them to analyse the product on site. In the past two months, they have produced around 200kgs of dried kava powder, packaged in red or blue cartons of 100 grams.

Mr Mahit says they are planning to increase their production volume.  But the focus for them is on producing top quality kava.

“Buyers want the product if they know it is good quality,” he said.

“We are genuine. We have the real thing out there on the market”

It is his first time at the Pasifika Festival although he has visited Auckland before on holiday.  Mr Mahit believes it is a good opportunity for the company to showcase the product and let people know more about it.

In addition, Mr Mahit was happy with the work done through the PT&I Pacific Path to Market programme.

They were very helpful and attending the Pasifika Festival is a very good opportunity he said.  It was good exposure and when he returns to Vanuatu he would be recommending their services to local producers he said.

The big hope is to find distributors in Auckland.  “If they’re happy with our product, there might be a market for us,” he said.

They are part of Vanuatu’s team of four companies attending the Pacific Trade & Invest (PT&I) NZ Pacific Path to Market delegation for Pasifika Festival on 25-26 in Auckland’s Western Springs.

Situated in an idyllic garden at the ACTIV Association Centre, in the Stella Mare subdivision at the second Lagoon, the factory is a 15-minute drive from Port Vila. The serene environment with tropical wooden structures, beautiful exotic blooms and delicious fruit is the place where the magic takes place and the chocolate is manufactured. The hand crafted artisanal chocolate uses just cocoa beans and sugar.

Aelean Company Director Sandrine Wallez said they are hoping to promote their products to the New Zealand audience and either open up a market for their products or find distributors for each of their products.

But the visit will also be a learning opportunity to find out more on New Zealand’s requirements for market entry.

“It is a real opportunity for us as a small business in Vanuatu to be able to attend such an event like the Pasifika festival and to meet with businesses interested in working with the Pacific islands. It is a huge investment on our side and to make sure we make the right connections with the right person,” she said. The company has a staff of nine.

Aelan Chocolate comes in three distinctive island flavours and is sold from the Island Shop and selected retailers in Port Vila. The cocoa product range includes cocoa nibs, cocoa husks, virgin coconut oil and are also proposing handicraft products. One of the aims of the company is to assist small-scale producers to improve the quality of their cocoa beans and then reaping a higher return.

There is a shop at the ACTIV Association Centre, stocking local handicrafts, carvings, spices, coffee, honey, cocoa and coconut products. The handicrafts and produce are all locally sourced and range from woven baskets and mats to wooden carvings, jewellery, hats, shells and sea glass.

Aelan is also producing Virgin Coconut Oil at its new processing facility where local villagers are hired to process coconut oil and coconut crumbs. There are also regular tours conducted around the facility allowing people to see how the oil is produced.

Photo Facebook Ativ Association 

George Koran originally from North Ambrym, Vanuatu said he passed by the Research Office one day and noticed the wear and tear on the current one standing outside.

He then approached Mr Henry Bill, Deputy Chair USP Student Association (USPSA) Federal and offered to carve a new one. Mr Bill then met with Professor Jito Vanualailai, USP Director Research and this is how the initial agreement came into place.

“The tamtam is significant in my tribe and we normally carve it only for chiefs to be displayed at their sacred ceremonial sites known in Vanuatu as Nasara. I am proud and privileged to be doing this for USP,” said Mr Koran, who is into his final year at USP.

According to Mr Bill, the tamtam is only carved by the people of North Ambrym and only certain people who have been recognised through customary rank can carve it.

“It is a taboo for anybody else to carve the tamtam in Vanuatu. As these wooden carvings carry very high customary value and respect, the process has to be in a respected manner as well,” he stated.

“Even removing the old tamtam in front of the Research office, only Mr Koran is allowed to do that and replace the new one with the help of his Vanuatu peers followed by a small kava ceremony to mark the replacement of the tamtam,” he explained.

Mr Koran is studying the Bachelor of Science programme, majoring in Environment and Geospatial Science.

“I have been working on it for the sixth week now but normally with this size of carving, it would take a whole week to finish it especially with modern tools,” he added.

He explained that the breadfruit tree is normally used to carry out such carvings and the one he is currently working on is a branch that fell during Tropical Cyclone Winston last year.

“At home, we normally use old breadfruit trees, the older the tree the stronger the inner part is for carving,” he added.

When the USP Communications team visited Mr Koran at the site, he had finished carving with a chisel and was shining the object with sandpaper, together with a friend. The duo were also preparing to varnish the tamtam.

Mr Bill added this is not only a milestone achievement but a historical one to have a student studying while carving and especially at this time as the University gears towards preparations for celebration of its 50th Anniversary.

Photo: Vanuatu student George Koran (L) carving the wooden tamtam with the help of a fellow student.