The foreign minister of Vanuatu has defended claims by Airports Vanuatu that there has been no consultation over the new controversial upgrade plan.
The general manager of Airports Vanuatu, Kevin Abel, says staff have been kept in the dark about the plans and their own job security.
But Edward Natapei says the plan has been in the pipeline for six years and investors have been hard to find. He says if Vanuatu doesn't act now, it will be a timebomb that leaves the country in the past.
Opposition MPs have criticised the $350 million US dollar deal to upgrade the country's airports but Mr Natapei says the move is not risky as long as Vanuatu honours its agreement with the Singaporean company.
"We're now embarking on this project because we feel if we miss it now, it's going to be another 25 years without any development in this country and we'll be left with this time bomb in the next 25 years. So it's important, this project is very, very important for this country."
The foreign minister of Vanuatu, Edward Natapei
