Parliament today passed a bill to amend the Public Land Transport law.

Currently, some members of the Public Land Transport Authority Board are involved in transport businesses, which often creates conflicts of interest.

The amendment reduces the number of board members from ten to six.

The new members will be senior government officials who have no personal interest in the transport business, along with one representative from the Provincial Land Transport Associations.

Under the changes, the Director of the Department of Local Authorities will now serve as the Chairperson of the Board, joined by the Director of Tourism, the Director of Public Works, the Head of the Vanuatu Police Traffic Unit, one representative appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, and one representative from the Provincial Land Transport Associations.

Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat, who presented the bill in Parliament, said the amendments will help reduce meeting costs, make board decisions more independent, and improve the Authority’s ability to manage and oversee land transport associations across the country.