The Government wants to see reports for all past grants provided to the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC). Prime Minister Jotham Napat raised this concern yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Napat stressed that every year the Government allocates funding to VCC, yet no official reports have ever been submitted back to the Government.

At the handing over of an additional VT 50 million grant to VCC, the Prime Minister said the lack of reporting is a serious issue.

“Ever since government has allocated this fund, there have not been any reports. If people question how these funds are used, I cannot justify anything,” PM Napat said.

He added that while the Government continues to meet its obligation to support churches, the Council must also help by being accountable and transparent with how the money is spent.

“You must help government by being accountable for the expenses. If not, we cannot measure the effectiveness of how these funds are used,” he said.

In response, VCC Secretary General Pastor Bernard Yalimyau said the Council will follow up with its member churches to collect and submit the outstanding reports.

“We will follow up on this. We have many churches, and for them to do reports takes time. For 2023, no reports have been submitted yet,” he admitted.

During yesterday’s ceremony, the Prime Minister officially handed over the VT 50 million cheque to VCC and encouraged the Council to organise programs and activities that will benefit young people across the country.