Vanuatu Cultural Centre

Using his powers under the “Preservation of Sites and Artifacts” Act (cap. 39 of the Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu), the Minister of Internal Affairs has classified 77 buildings and sites in and around Port Vila as protected sites of historical, ethnological or artistic interest. This classification means that these building and sites cannot be destroyed or modified without permission from the Minister. Therefore, the owners of these buildings and sites are legally bound not only to prevent such buildings or sites being modified or undergoing any deterioration, but also to inform the Minister of any change that is likely to take place in the condition or ownership of these buildings or sites (providing that such changes do not invalidate the historical value of the building or site).

Under the provisions of the Act, owners of these buildings and sites now have 3 months from the date of the Minister’s classification to make any representations to the Minister regarding this classification, in particular any representations they wish to make opposing this classification. Failure to submit any representations to the Minister within this three month period shall be taken as indicating the owner’s full consent to the proposed conditions of classification.

The Vanuatu Cultural Centre is now preparing a further list of culturally important sites on Efate island for protection, which will be classified by the Minister in the next couple of months. These sites are particularly those now threatened by development.

Further information on the sites listed for protection or other aspects of this classification can be obtained from Ms Martha Kaltal, Director of the Vanuatu Cultural and Historic Sites Register at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre.

See the list of 77 buildings and sites now classified as protected.