The much-anticipated reopening of Port Vila City has been confirmed for next week, on March 19. The Port Vila City Council has worked with the national recovery committee to secure approval for the reopening of select roads within the city.

City council staff have been hard at work this week cleaning and preparing the sea-front area for reopening. Town Planner Manses Fatdal provided details on the preparations, including a signed letter from Leith Veremaito, Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The letter outlines specific safety measures, including the installation of barricades around damaged areas.

Fatdal explained that certain sections of the city remain off-limits due to significant building damage. “There are barricaded areas in the management map under the amended restriction area, as some areas are still unsafe,” he said. Additionally, Fatdal emphasized that public vehicles will not be allowed on the reopened roads. Only private vehicles and business-related vehicles will have access due to the narrowness of the roads.

The sea-front area, also known as Fewia  Park, is being carefully restored. Fatdal reassured the public that while the area will reopen, safety remains a top priority. “We are ensuring safety in the restricted areas, but changes will continue depending on the progress of ongoing demolitions,” he said.

As of now, demolition work is still underway in the Central Business District (CBD), with more structures expected to be removed to ensure the safety of the public. The reopening of Port Vila is a crucial step in the recovery process, with officials emphasizing the importance of safety while restoring the city’s vibrancy