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The Vanuatu Government will now be fully engaged in an operation to eradicate the Coconut Rhinoceres Beetle.
The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biosecurity (MALFFB), Moses Amos said CRB has now been found on Lelepa Island.
The Government declared a State of Emergency following the discovery of the CRB and reports of devastation of coconut palms.
In their debriefing upon their return from Mangaliliu village last Friday which was MALFFB's first "Stop Work" Friday, a point which was raised at the meeting to fully engage the 13 Government ministries and adopted at the MALFFB''s Executive Meeting this week received assurance and green light from the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
The Ministry of Education is the second Government ministry to deploy 100 officers to fully engage in the operation 'Stop CRB" at the breeding grounds of Arar to Gideon's Landing.
Operation Manager of the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre, Touasi Tiwok said the officers will be divided into five groups of 30 people each and will be destroying breeding sites from Arar Point to Gideon’s Landing.
Tiwok said people within each group have already been trained to handle chainsaws to cut rotten logs and clear the breeding grounds.
The Public Service Commission Chairman has given assurance to utilize the 13 government ministries in the eradication efforts, which the Ministry of Agriculture has taken lead, she said.
Photo supplied Caption: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biosecurity, DG Moses Amos
