Three people have been arrested on the Vanuatu island of Tanna following the burning of a truck owned by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony of a road project in Tanna, Vanuatu. Photo: Supplied
The Chinese company is building a road on the island, which is dependent on tourism.
A Tafea Provincial Government official, David Tovovur, who is chairman of the road construction project steering committee, says he is not aware of the motive for the arson.
But he says it is clear not everyone is happy.
He says there have been issues concerning sacred stones on a part of the land where the road is to be built and two local parties are at odds over whether to allow the construction to go ahead.
Mr. Tovovur says police also had to be called on one occasion after protesting youths showed up with machetes while the clearing of the site was underway.
He says construction of the road, which started two months ago, is now on hold.
