30 Jul 2009

Vanuatu marks Independence Day

6:51 pm on 30 July 2009

Celebrations have been taking place in Vanuatu to mark 29 years since the country gained independence.

Schools and businesses were closed as many ni-Vanuatu took time out to celebrate the national day.

Sara Vuitalitu reports from Port Vila

"The day began with a flag-raising ceremony at Independence Park where hundreds gathered in the rain to watch the military and police parade and to hear the Prime Minister Edward Natapei's address calling on everyone to celebrate together as one nation. July the 30th marks the day in 1980 when Vanuatu gained independence from britain and France. A number of music, dance and sports events are going on to mark the occasion."