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Living in Vanuatu News, Port-Vila (2026)

20/10/2026

SIBLINGS FROM VANUATU WITH SAME RARE BIRTH DEFECT CAN WALK AFTER DONATED CANBERRA CARE 🌺🏥

“Mum Lisa Kassau had never left her village on a tiny volcanic island in Vanuatu.
But that was before a life-changing opportunity allowed her to fly to Australia to help her children walk.

Siblings Anis, 13, and Melanie, 3, were both born with severe structural talipes, often called clubfoot.

The condition, which can run in families, had been uncorrected in the pair for so long that their feet were turned backwards. It affects one in 1,000 babies born in Australia.

Seven months of donated physiotherapy and surgeries in Canberra have allowed the pair to walk.

"I miss my family [but it's] important for my children to walk," Ms Kassau said.

"I live in my fields a long way away [and there's] no treatment," she said about the island of Tanna.

Ms Kassau now marvels at her children as they walk and play; the trio is thankful as they prepare to fly home. "I can live now," she said.

BOY STARES AT NEW FEET

Within 24 hours of arriving in Australia, senior physiotherapist with Canberra Health Services Melanie Ryan had applied stretching and put the children in plaster up to their thighs. That plaster was then changed once or twice a week.

"Melanie certainly engaged with us beautifully and would play games, but as soon as we'd go to put a plaster on, she well and truly got cross with us and told us off," Ms Ryan said about her three-year-old patient.

"There were a couple of occasions where we thought she was being quite cheeky and saying some tough stuff to us. The mum refused to tell us what she was saying, her older brother also refused [but] he was very much chuckling."

Ms Ryan worked with physiotherapist Dan Myyrylainen and Dr Blaise Wardle, who performed surgeries on the siblings.

She said a moment she would always remember was when Anis put his feet out in front of him and stared at them.

"I'd say to him, 'do they look different?' And he would just smile at me," Ms Ryan said.

"I think he'd gotten so used to his feet being turned for such a long time that I don't think he realised it was going to be possible for his feet to be corrected and to look like his friends'."

"It's great to be able to use our skills for families who otherwise wouldn't have access to it," she said.

The care is possible under a memorandum of understanding between the ACT government and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) which brings sick babies and children to Canberra for critical care.

GOAL TO HELP 50 KIDS

The Kassau family was welcomed into Sandra and Brian Goldstraw's Canberra home.

Ms Goldstraw, who was instrumental in establishing ROMAC's Canberra operation, is a retired nurse and midwife who has housed, fed and clothed 33 Pacific Islander children, including Anis and Melanie.

"And there are more children out there who need our help, who are just like our children," Ms Goldstraw said. "They are loved just like our mums love us."

Ms Goldstraw hopes to help 50 children.

And next week she will host a baby and mother, also from Vanuatu, when the three-month-old boy who has a lung condition is discharged from a special care nursery in Canberra.

QUIET DUO THRIVES

Ms Goldstraw said when the Kassau siblings arrived they were very quiet before developing interests in their new surroundings.

"They started to really like TV because they've never had the TV at home, and we have an extra phone, so they kept on playing games on the phone.

"And Melanie, well, she's just a sweet little three-year-old who was quite noisy at times, and she loved to dance around."

When older brother Anis was not in hospital, he was supported to attend Gold Creek High School for two terms.

"They looked after him so well. They even had a special teacher to guide him," Ms Goldstraw said.

And although there were significant language barriers, she said she had a wonderful connection with the children's mother.

"She'd always like to have a hug," she said about Ms Kassau.

"I could see that she was so happy to see her children progressing with their treatment; she would smile when she saw them walking around and having a bit of fun at the physio department," she said.

ROMAC started almost 40 years ago and has helped about 600 children, while the Canberra operation began in 2006 with capacity to help four children each year.”

Source & Photo: ABC News
Date of Publication: 18/10/2026

20/10/2026

PORT VILA TO DENARAU | HAUS OF BWÂGAVI SET TO SHINE AT STYLE FIJI 2026 🌺💅

“A VANUATU fashion house will bring a message of unity to the Style Fiji runway next month.

Haus of Bwâgavi, founded in Port Vila by GiGi Baxter, shows at Style Fiji on Saturday, November 07 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort on Denarau, presenting its print BiniGâituvah under this year’s theme, “A midsummer night’s dream”.

For Baxter, the theme could not fit better. The house began as a dream in 2003. More than two decades later it reached the Pacific Runway at New Zealand Fashion Week 2026, and now it travels to Fiji to share the stories of Vanuatu with the wider Pacific family.

In the Raga language of North Pentecost, Bwâgavi refers to the traditional background prints that hold the stories of life, love, tribes and the humility of the ancestors. The house gives those stories new life through contemporary design, carrying them onto the runway.

Six prints have been created so far, each telling a chapter of history, ancestry, the journey of the Pacific’s natural navigators, and the elements of earth, water and light.

BiniGâituvah, the one travelling to Fiji, means unity. At a time when stigma, discrimination and hate speech still touch people across the region, the print stands for something simple, that we respect one another, whoever we are.

Its message arrives at a particular moment. Fiji declared a national HIV outbreak in January 2025 and now has one of the fastest growing epidemics in the Asia Pacific, with stigma and discrimination keeping people away from testing and treatment.

Style Fiji 2026 is raising funds for Fiji’s HIV response and for the Fiji Mobility Alliance.

The house brings it as a gift of unity from Vanuatu, and a reminder that no one should face HIV alone or be judged for it.

The five sister prints each carry their own story. Valiu Sala, or Perfect Mismatch, the house’s first contemporary design, tells of a love that endured despite society’s disapproval. Matanialo, Eye of the Sun, honours the ancestors’ dream of reclaiming their way of life.

MatmwaGagaDali shows that great success grows from humble beginnings. Buluana, centred on Lombenben, the volcano of Ambae, celebrates the ties that bind families, villages and islands. Rauniu, inspired by the coconut tree, honours a symbol of life and resilience shared by Vanuatu and Fiji alike.

“Every print is a reminder of reclaiming our identity,” Baxter said.

“As ni-Vanuatu, we carry our culture with pride wherever we go.

“To stand on a Pacific stage in Fiji is to celebrate who we are, our stories, our ancestors and our islands, as part of the wider Pacifika family.

“As Fiji faces the challenge of HIV, we come in solidarity, because unity is how we heal and how we rise. What began as a dream in 2003 is now walking the runway.”

The house, which has also shown at the VPride Fashion Show in 2023, thanked Samson Lee for the invitation. With only weeks to prepare, Baxter said, the team has poured its heart into the collection.

Style Fiji 2026, “A midsummer night’s dream,” takes place on Saturday, November 07 from 6pm at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Denarau Island.”

Source & Photo: The Fiji Times
Date of Publication: 17/10/2026

20/10/2026

VANUATU SAYS IT EXPECTS FALL IN CHINA'S POLICE PRESENCE AFTER SIGNING NAKAMAL AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA ⏳

“The federal government has notched a potentially significant strategic win in the Pacific, with Vanuatu saying China's police presence there was "expected to reduce over time" following its signing of the Nakamal Agreement with Australia.

China has expanded policing ties with several Pacific nations in recent years, but this is only the second time a Pacific nation has made an on-the-record commitment, albeit with a caveat, to wind back Beijing's police presence on the ground.

Fiji's prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, said in 2024 that Chinese officers in his country's police force had been "repatriated" because the two countries had different legal systems.

China has maintained a small police training team in Vanuatu since 2023, and its internal affairs minister, Andrew Napuat, travelled to Beijing last month to renew its policing cooperation pact with Beijing.

The Chinese embassy in Vanuatu has also made substantial donations to Vanuatu's police force, including multiple surveillance drones, dozens of motorcycles, patrol boats, uniforms, minibuses, riot gear and forensics laboratory equipment.

That is a source of anxiety for Australia, which believes Beijing is intent on establishing a military foothold in the region and that it is using police training teams to embed itself as a legitimate security partner for Pacific nations.

Last week Vanuatu's deputy prime minister and finance minister, Johnny Koanapo, met Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Pacific Minister Pat Conroy in Canberra to discuss implementation of the high-profile Nakamal Agreement, which was finally signed in June after months of sometimes tough negotiations.

The two governments said in a joint statement that the agreement recognised Australia as "Vanuatu's longstanding primary policing partner" and "reaffirmed its commitment in the Nakamal Agreement that it would prioritise any policing requests to Pacific Islands Forum members".

"Vanuatu said its police arrangement with China had been in place for some time, is time-limited and expected to reduce over time, whereas the Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement is legally binding and has no expiry date," they said.

The joint statement was quietly uploaded to DFAT's website early this afternoon, but has not been heavily publicised by either government.

Vanuatu's government did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The ABC has also sought comment from the Chinese embassies in Port Vila and Canberra.

Issues around police cooperation remain highly sensitive in Vanuatu, and disagreements over China's role in the sector have sparked up before.

Last week Vanuatu's prime minister, Jotham Napat, pushed back when a senior Australian Federal Police officer, David McLean, told a parliamentary committee that the eight-strong AFP team in Vanuatu would soon increase due to growing cooperation under the Nakamal Agreement.

"I expect that number could nearly double in size over the coming years as we increase the frequency and intensity of program delivery and advisory support," he said.

He said the cooperation would cover "everything from the fundamentals of modern organisational design and administration through to professional standards, investigative policing, community policing, general duties policing, forensics and the centre of excellence we're delivering".

But Mr Napat cautioned last week that his country had yet to give any approval for an increase in Australian police officers, and that any request would need to be signed off by his government.

"Anything where we allow them to come, that's a matter where our government with the government of Australia sits down and agrees to that," he said.

"But I'm not aware of any arrangement."

The two countries also provided some basic details about the early implementation of the Nakamal Agreement, which is expected to funnel about $500 million into Vanuatu's key priorities over a decade.

In their joint statement, the two countries said the early priorities would include "strengthened policing cooperation, budget support, climate cooperation and assistance for ni-Vanuatu communities affected by El Niño and volcanic ash".

They also said Australia had committed to "early delivery of two renewable energy and water projects", including providing "renewable electricity, lighting and clean water to schools and community facilities in remote communities, and solar-powered water supply systems to improve access to water".

Vanuatu also flagged investment in key infrastructure priorities, including maritime and aviation infrastructure and rebuilding efforts in Port Vila, Santo and Tanna, in meetings with representatives of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.”

Source & Photo: ABC News
Date of Publication: 20/10/2026

19/10/2026

VANUATU AND PACIFIC SCIENTISTS TRAIN IN VOLCANO MONITORING ON TANNA 🌋

“Scientists from Vanuatu and across the Pacific have taken part in specialised volcano monitoring and hazard-management training aimed at strengthening the region’s ability to identify volcanic activity and improve disaster preparedness.

The training ran from October 7 to 16 in Port Vila and Tanna, with participants learning how to collect and interpret seismic and infrasound data used to monitor volcanoes.

The programme was supported by the United States through the U.S. Department of State-funded Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP), with experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and several Japanese universities. It was also supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and hosted by Vanuatu’s Geological Hazards Department.

PRACTICAL TRAINING AT MOUNT YASUR

On Tanna, participants carried out fieldwork at Mount Yasur, where they installed seismic and infrasound monitoring equipment to record data from the volcano’s ongoing activity.

They also met with local communities to discuss volcanic hazards before returning to Port Vila to download, process and interpret the data collected.

The training covered the full monitoring process, from installing equipment and gathering observations to analysing data and identifying signs that could indicate changes in volcanic activity.

STRENGTHENING EARLY WARNING CAPABILITIES

U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer David Kissling says reliable scientific information is important for communities exposed to natural hazards.

“Vanuatu understands firsthand the importance of reliable scientific information when communities face natural hazards,” Kissling said.

He says the programme is helping build local and regional expertise in monitoring volcanic activity.

“By sharing American expertise and practical monitoring techniques with scientists from Vanuatu and across the Pacific, we are helping strengthen local capabilities to anticipate volcanic activity, provide earlier warning, and protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.

REGIONAL COOPERATION IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The U.S. Embassy says the training also strengthened cooperation between scientists and government agencies responsible for volcano monitoring across the Pacific.

Established in 1986, VDAP is implemented by the USGS with funding from the U.S. Department of State. The programme works with volcano-monitoring agencies internationally to improve preparedness, strengthen early warning systems and reduce the human and economic impacts of volcanic eruptions.

The training is intended to help national institutions maintain monitoring systems, interpret their own data and make informed decisions during periods of volcanic unrest.”

Source & Photo: VBTC News
Date of Publication: 16/10/2026

19/10/2026

TWO CARNIVAL SHIPS TO LEAVE AUSTRALIA, AFFECTING VANUATU CRUISE CALLS 🛳📉

“Vanuatu is assessing the impact of Carnival Cruise Line’s decision to withdraw Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure from Australia in March 2028, a move expected to reduce cruise calls to Port Vila, Mystery Island and other ports from mid-2028.

Cruise tourism accounts for a significant share of visitor numbers in Vanuatu. According to the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics, four cruise ships brought 11,820 day visitors to the country in August 2026, representing 52% of all visitors recorded that month.

The Department of Tourism says the two ships regularly visit Vanuatu, and their departure will affect cruise schedules across the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 15, the Department said the decision was driven largely by operating conditions in Australia, the main source market for cruise visitors to Vanuatu, and was not the result of any issue in Vanuatu or the Pacific.

AUSTRALIA’S CRUISE OPERATING CONDITIONS

Carnival Cruise Line announced on October 15 that Carnival Luminosa will make its final voyage from Sydney on March 15, 2028, while Carnival Adventure will depart Sydney on March 20, 2028, and will not return to Australia as previously planned.
Carnival says its decision reflects several factors involved in deploying ships years in advance, including the need for long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions.

Carnival Cruise Line Country Manager Peter Little described the Australian Government’s extension of cruise operations between Australian ports until the end of 2028 as an interim measure.

“The extension is a welcome but interim step while the long-term operating framework for the Australian cruise sector is developed over the next two years,” Little said.

The Department of Tourism says concerns about Australia’s regulatory uncertainty and rising operating costs were raised at the Australian Cruise Association’s annual conference in Brisbane in September.

It also cited Cruise Lines International Association Australasia head Joel Katz, who warned that “Australia is struggling to attract ships to our waters because of regulatory uncertainties and rising costs.”

VANUATU PREPARING FOR CHANGES

The Department says it is working with cruise lines to confirm how many calls will be affected in each season and at which ports.

It says the information will be shared with tour operators, transport providers, handicraft vendors, market vendors and host communities once confirmed, allowing businesses to plan ahead.

The Department is also working with the Vanuatu Tourism Office and industry partners to retain existing cruise calls, attract new services and help businesses that depend on cruise visitors reach other markets through existing programmes.

CRUISE TOURISM WILL CONTINUE

The Department says cruise tourism to Vanuatu will continue despite the planned departure of the two ships.

Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter are expected to continue year-round sailings from Australia, while other brands within the Carnival Corporation portfolio, including Princess Cruises, will continue visiting Vanuatu. Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure are also scheduled to continue their calls into early 2028.

Little said the two departing ships had played an important role in Carnival’s Australian operations and had taken visitors to South Pacific destinations, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.

“There is still plenty of time to experience everything these ships have to offer,” he said.

The Department says Vanuatu will continue working with Australia and its Pacific neighbours as the future operating framework for cruise tourism is developed.”

Source & Photo: VBTC News
Date of Publication: 16/10/2026

18/10/2026

CHRISTELLA KALSRAP INSPIRED TO GROW THE NEXT GENERATION OF BASKETBALL IN VANUATU 🏀🌺

"Vanuatu’s Christella Kalsrap is taking new skills, connections and inspiration home following an internship in Australia through FIBA’s Women in Basketball Leadership Program.

For Christella Kalsrap, the future of basketball in Vanuatu starts with creating pathways for young girls to step onto the court with confidence. Her story is a reminder that when girls are supported to learn, grow, and dream within the sport, the whole community moves forward.

Following her participation in the 2026 Women in Basketball Leadership Program, Kalsrap was selected for an internship in Melbourne, Australia, providing hands-on exposure to coaching, athlete development and the delivery of basketball programs at an elite level.

Already involved with the Vanuatu Basketball Federation, Christella Kalsrap entered the program with a clear ambition: to strengthen her coaching knowledge and bring those skills home to support long term basketball development. For her, the experience wasn’t just about personal growth; it was about building the foundations that young players in Vanuatu often don’t have access to.

One of her biggest goals is to establish a dedicated basketball program for children aged 6 to 10 in Port Vila, creating a safe and structured space where kids can learn the basics, fall in love with the game, and begin their development journey early. By investing in this age group, Kalsrap hopes to spark a new generation of players who grow up with confidence, opportunity, and a clear pathway in basketball.

LEARNING FROM AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL

During her internship, Kalsrap gained practical experience through She Hoops activities and the Australian Opals environment.

She supported clinics and worked alongside experienced Australian coaches and athletes, including Australian Opals Assistant Coach Cheryl Chambers and 2006 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup champions Belinda Snell and Laura Hodges.

Kalsrap also volunteered with She Hoops, supported fan engagement activities and experienced the environment surrounding the Australian Opals’ international series against China.

For Kalsrap, seeing how clinics and development pathways operate in Australia provided practical ideas she can adapt back home.

“The clinic was an amazing experience. I saw a lot of new drills that I can use for the clinics I will be running back home,” Kalsrap said. “She Hoops really opened my eyes to how well the pathway program is run throughout the country.”

The experience also allowed Kalsrap to build relationships with coaches and athletes interested in staying connected and supporting future clinics and coaching opportunities in Vanuatu.

DEVELOPING WOMEN LEADERS ACROSS OCEANIA

Kalsrap’s internship represents the next step in a broader leadership pathway created through FIBA’s Women in Basketball Leadership Program.

As part of FIBA’s global Women in Basketball strategy, the program develops emerging female leaders by building their skills, confidence and networks, with the aim of strengthening basketball organisations and communities across Oceania.

Supported by PacificAus Sports, the 2026 program brought together 11 women from eight National Federations for online learning and an in-person workshop, with participants developing skills across leadership, communication, governance, safeguarding and community impact. Kalsrap and Samoa’s Theresa Masoe-Taimalelagi were subsequently selected for internship opportunities in Australia.

“Opportunities like this give women in the Pacific a chance to further their experience in the development of sport,” Kalsrap said. “I believe opportunities like this can benefit not only the individual, but the organisation as a whole.”

TAKING THE EXPERIENCE HOME

With the internship complete, Kalsrap’s focus now turns to Vanuatu.
She plans to share her experience with the Vanuatu Basketball Federation, continue developing her coaching skills and explore how the connections she established in Australia could support basketball development at home.

Most importantly, she wants to turn her ambition for junior basketball into action.
“Now that I have more experience in running clinics, I believe I can start building the development program for kids’ basketball in Vanuatu,” Kalsrap said.

“I know I will have the support of many of the people I networked with during my time in Australia, as well as the support of our Federation and the League.”

As the basketball community celebrates International Day of the Girl Child this week, Kalsrap’s experience is a reminder of the impact that investing in girls and women can have beyond the individual - creating role models, strengthening communities and opening pathways for the next generation.

For Kalsrap, that journey now continues at home, where she hopes the next generation of girls in Vanuatu can discover their own place in basketball, on the court, on the side lines and as future leaders of the game.”

Source & Photo: FIBA News
Date of Publication: 09/10/2026

17/10/2026

EARTH SCIENCES NZ OUTLOOK SAYS ELEVATED CYCLONE RISK FOR PARTS OF PACIFIC 🌀

“Earth Sciences New Zealand is predicting elevated cyclone activity for parts of the Pacific in the coming cyclone season.

Cyclone season starts 1 November.

In its outlook released on Wednesday morning, developed with contributions from New Zealand's MetService, the University of Newcastle in Australia, and various Pacific Islands metservices, Earth Sciences said a range of seven to eleven named cyclones could occur in the Southwest Pacific.

For north, central and northeast areas - including Samoa, Tokelau, and parts of Kiribati - there is an elevated risk.

Significant differences are expected between the west and east, with the risk of impacts expected to be higher near and to the east of the International Date Line.
In the East Coral Sea - including New Caledonia and Vanuatu - there is a normal to reduced risk.

For north of the Coral Sea and the west central area of the southwest Pacific, including Fiji and Tonga, near normal activity is forecast.

But Earth Sciences warns that at least four tropical cyclones reaching category 3 or higher may occur anywhere across the region, so all communities should remain prepared.

Principal scientist Andrew Lorrey said there may also be an early start to the season.

He said there are strong indications that the southwest Pacific is likely to see an increase in cyclone activity compared to recent seasons.

"Over the long term, cyclone numbers have been gradually decreasing in the Southwest Pacific, but there can be prominent year-to-year variability," he said.

"During past strong El Niño events like the one that's currently unfolding, we've typically seen elevated numbers of cyclones across the region, along with more activity to the east of the International Date Line. This is an area that's usually fairly quiet."

New Zealand's risk for the coming season is normal, Lorrey said.

"This year there is the potential that northern and western areas facing the Tasman Sea have more of a chance of experiencing a decaying storm than eastern regions,"
Cyclone season ends in April 2027.”

Source & Photo: RNZ News
Date of Publication: 14/10/2026

16/10/2026

𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗩𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗦 🕵️‍♀️🛡

“Cyber Watch Committee (Inc.) has confirmed that eight online vehicle sales websites targeting Pacific Island countries are currently inaccessible following the Committee's efforts to raise concerns about suspicious vehicle advertisements and potential risks to consumers.

The development follows detailed research and analysis by Cyber Watch Committee into a wider network of 51 internet domains associated with online vehicle advertising.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗟𝗬

As part of its investigation, Cyber Watch Committee contacted an individual historically associated with the development of these websites.

The Committee outlined its concerns about potentially fraudulent vehicle advertisements and requested assistance in having the websites reviewed and, where appropriate, taken offline.

The individual acknowledged the concerns and advised that the information would be passed to relevant parties for review and action.

Subsequent checks found that eight Pacific vehicle sales websites were no longer accessible.

𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘

Vanuatu — vanuatucarsales.com
Tonga — tongacars.com
Samoa — samoacars.com
Timor-Leste — timorcarsales.com
Papua New Guinea — pngautos.com
Guam — guamcarsales.com
New Caledonia — autonoumea.com
French Polynesia — autofenua.com

A ninth website, solomonscars.com, associated with the Solomon Islands , was also experiencing technical difficulties.

The Committee independently repeated its checks using a separate server accessed through a United Kingdom VPN connection. The same eight websites remained inaccessible.

𝗔 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Cyber Watch Committee considers these findings an important development in its ongoing consumer protection investigation.

However, the Committee has not established whether the websites became inaccessible because of its correspondence, action taken by website operators, or unrelated technical issues.

The cause remains under investigation.

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦

Online vehicle sales platforms can expose consumers to serious financial risks when sellers, advertised vehicles, ownership documents, and payment arrangements cannot be independently verified.

Cyber Watch Committee is particularly concerned about consumers in Pacific Island countries who may be asked to transfer substantial sums of money before inspecting or receiving a vehicle.

The Committee urges consumers to verify sellers and vehicle ownership independently and exercise extreme caution before making advance payments.

𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗦

Cyber Watch Committee is continuing its examination of the wider network of 51 identified internet domains.

The Committee is preserving evidence, reviewing historical records, monitoring website availability, and seeking clarification from individuals with knowledge of the platforms.

Where credible evidence of unlawful activity is identified, the Committee will consider referring its findings to relevant law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Cyber Watch Committee invites anyone who has advertised, purchased, attempted to purchase, or transferred money in connection with these websites to share their experiences.

Anyone who believes they may have been misled should preserve advertisements, emails, messages, invoices, bank transfer records, and other relevant evidence.

The Committee emphasises that website inaccessibility alone does not establish fraud, wrongdoing, or a permanent shutdown.

𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗘 (𝗜𝗡𝗖.)

Committed to online safety, consumer protection, and greater accountability across digital marketplaces in Vanuatu and the wider Pacific region.”

Source & Photo: Cyber Watch Committee
Date of Publication: 13/10/2026

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