Around 50 government trucks were sent to Tanna in August to take part in the Public Service Day and the National Arts Festival with 22 trucks on board Vanuatu Ferry ship costing VT1.5 million.

The Fleet Management Unit at the Public Service Commission confirmed to VBTC News that the trucks came from government departments, ministers, and state-owned vehicles.

Out of this, VT1.5 million was spent on transporting 22 government and state trucks on the Vanferry.

Fleet Management explained that one reason for sending such a large number of trucks was because there are not enough vehicles available on Tanna.

However, a local man, John Bill, suggested that in the future the government should plan better, as too many vehicles were sent to the island.

“Many people have said that a lot of money was wasted sending the trucks back and forth, and that is what the public is saying. If the organizing committee for the PSC Day had planned better using existing resources on Tanna, not every truck would have needed to travel down from Port Vila,” he said.

Apart from that, Mr Bill said he was happy that the local hiring of vehicles was done on the ground with VT20,000 a day.

“My vehicle was used for eight days during the Arts Festival which is around VT160,000,” Mr Bill said.

“Roughly VT100,000-VT200,000 that local transport drivers made during the biggest event on Tanna which is quite good.”

Another local in Tanna also claimed that some government trucks were misused for private visits to the volcano, which he said was not appropriate.

The Fleet Management Unit assured that all the government trucks sent to Tanna were still in good condition

The total expense for the 50 trucks, including government staff who traveled to Tanna, was VT6 million, which also covered materials.