The 50th anniversary of Port Vila Day will be marked under the theme “Yumi Stanap Yet”, with a two-day event at Saralana Park from June 10–11.

The celebration, originally planned as a large-scale event, has been scaled down to two days following last year’s major earthquake and ongoing recovery efforts. Many buildings remain under demolition, and several businesses are still in the recovery phase.

Speaking to VBTC News, Chairperson of the Jubilee Committee, Amos Ronnie, said this year’s celebration will be educational rather than purely entertaining.

“We don’t want a celebration that gets out of hand. Day one ends at 6:30 PM, day two by 9 PM. There will be stalls, but we want youth to come for information, not just enjoyment,” he said.

The event will reflect on the 50-year history of Port Vila, with activities designed to educate both youth and the wider public on the city’s past and its vision for the next 50 years.

The theme “Yumi Stanap Yet” comes from the Ifira language and was chosen to highlight resilience in the face of disasters.

“We chose the theme from the Ifira language because after all the disasters we’ve faced, we continue to stand strong. It reflects our resilience,” Ronnie explained.

Preparations for the two-day celebration are already underway.