Vanuatu’s ruling Vanua’aku Party this week looked back on 49 years of political representation as the party celebrated its 49th anniversary.

Prime Minister Bob Loughman, the President of the Vanua’aku Party, says the celebrations this week focused on remembering the people who have gone before and who struggled for Vanuatu’s political freedom.

He credited Vanuatu’s early political leaders with the nation’s prosperity.

“Today we are enjoying the benefits and rewards from hardship that our old people went through up until 1980,” Prime Minister Loughman said.

“While this year, Vanuatu has marked its 40 years of existence, the Vanua’aku Party is celebrating 49 years since its foundation.”

The Vice President for the National United Party and the Minister of Health, Silas Bule, says the Vanua’aku Party was originally known as the National United Party and he says today, both parties still share the same ideas and stories.

He says the National United Party was part of the struggle of Vanuatu’s Independence.

“And today we are strong in terms of unity and work together to build this nation Vanuatu,” Mr Bule said.

The Vanua’aku Party was founded on 17 August 1971 by Walter Lini as the New Hebridean Cultural Association, and was renamed later that year as the New Hebrides National Party.

The party went on to win the 1975 elections and in 1977 it was renamed the Vanua’aku Pati. The Vanua’aku Pati has had members of parliament elected in every national election since it was formed.