During the ceremony, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai expressed gratitude to the citizens, residents, and all development partners for their dedication and contributions toward the nation’s progress.
“I want to congratulate and acknowledge the efforts of all citizens, residents, NGOs, civil society, and foreign volunteers for all the good work you have been doing to aid the development of Vanuatu,” he stated.
Vanuatu gained its independence from the joint colonial rule of Britain and France on May 30, 1980.
Passport Machines
In related news, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported that Internal Affairs Minister Johnny Koanapo announced the arrival of new passport machines as a “fitting present” during the independence celebrations.
Koanapo mentioned that the machines, which arrived on Saturday and are expected to print over 1,000 passports per week, will be installed shortly.
The newspaper noted that engineers responsible for the installation are scheduled to arrive in Vanuatu on Wednesday, with plans to have at least one machine operational by Friday.
Koanapo also stated that there are currently 7,000 pending passport applications.