The Government has rejected claims by the Opposition over Vanuatu’s participation at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Opposition Leader, Hon. Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau had alleged on social media that the trip was nothing more than taxpayer-funded tourism.

But the Government, through its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kierry Manase, has dismissed the statement as misleading and immature. “To be upstraight, I understand that there have been a lot of high-level meetings that Ministers were part of,” Manase said. “The saying that they were just going for nothing is not a mature thing to say. It reflects a very immature thought of the Opposition.”

Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Marc Ati and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu both attended the meetings on behalf of the Government.

Minister Ati clarified that Vanuatu’s country statement was originally scheduled for delivery while the delegation was still in New York. But delays caused by lengthy speeches from world leaders pushed the slot to September 29—two days after the delegation’s return home.

He stressed this did not diminish Vanuatu’s role, pointing to extensive engagements with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, bilateral partners, and regional allies. These included interventions on youth empowerment, noncommunicable diseases, nuclear disarmament, and climate-induced migration, as well as formalizing new diplomatic relations with Slovakia.

In response to the Opposition’s question on why Vanuatu’s Ambassador to the United Nations delivered the country’s statement on behalf of the Minister, PRO Manase explained that it was not unusual, as past governments had also taken the same approach.

Minister Ati, meanwhile, rejected the suggestion that the delegation’s attendance was a waste of funds, reminding that even during past administrations similar scheduling issues occurred. He urged the Opposition to avoid politicizing the matter and instead recognize the partnerships and agreements advanced at the global stage.

The Government has assured the people that Vanuatu’s participation at the UN continues to strengthen the country’s visibility and influence internationally, and that an official update on the outcomes of the trip will be released soon.