Vanuatu's labour minister says a return to agricultural work is the only solution to his country's youth unemployment issues.
The comment comes as a high-level United Nations conference on how the global economic crisis is affecting people in the Pacific begins in Port Vila today.
Moana Kalosil Carcasses says because of widespread land ownership more ni-Vanuatu could be producing their own food.
But he says that's not something many young people, seduced by the bright lights of the capital, are choosing to do.
"The government has to find some areas to convince young people, you have some ground, we're going to help you to develop that, we're going to find some market for you, you're going to make some living on that. That's the only solution. If not, we cannot create 10 or 20 Port Vilas, it is not possible. If we continue like this Port Vila will drown with so many young coming here. So we have to find a solution, a long-term solution and this is what the government is committed for."
Moana Kalosil Carcasses, the Vanuatu labour minister.
