A paramount chief in Vanuatu has appealed to the government not to sell a prime piece of land on the waterfront of Port Vila, saying it has to be reserved for his people.
Chief Mantoi Kalsakau III of Ifira says his ancestors have allowed their custom lands to be used to build Port Vila, but he has appealed to the government to respect his people and not sell the land to foreign investors, as his people must own the plot of land.
Chief Kalsakau made the appeal while welcoming the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government, the Port Vila Municipal Council and Shefa Province to allow a working group to prepare for the Port Vila Beautification project to start in August of this year.
The biggest beautification project in Vanuatu's capital is to be funded jointly by the governments of New Zealand and Australia.
