Five newly appointed Ward Secretaries will play a key role in improving communication between Port Vila City Council and local communities while supporting better planning and decision-making across the municipality.

Port Vila City Council says the new officers will serve as a direct link between residents and the Council by collecting community information, identifying local priorities and ensuring community concerns are reflected in future policies and development projects.

Manager of Community Facilities and Assets, Amos Ronnie, said the Ward Secretaries will help the Council make informed decisions by providing reliable data from each ward.

“Their main responsibility is to share information and collect data that the Council can use when making decisions. Decisions should be based on evidence. For example, if a ward has a large population but only one aid post, that information helps us work with the Ministry of Health to plan for additional services. This type of data is essential for making strategic decisions that will benefit Port Vila as it continues to grow.”

Mr Ronnie said another key responsibility of the Ward Secretaries will be to develop detailed community profiles for each ward.

He said the information will improve development planning and enable the Council to respond more effectively during emergencies and natural disasters.

“One of the first priorities for the Ward Secretaries is to develop community profiles so that this important data remains with the Council. In the past, development partners and stakeholders have collected information during disasters, but that data has not always been shared with us. That’s why we have partnered with the National Statistics Office to help collect and maintain accurate community data.”

The Council says establishing comprehensive community profiles will strengthen future planning, improve coordination with development partners and ensure services are delivered where they are needed most.