14 Aug 2013

Vanuatu Airports staff unaware of possible sacking

3:14 pm on 14 August 2013

The general manager of Airports Vanuatu Ltd, Kevin Abel, says there has been no communication from the government to the company about plans for radical changes to the country's airport services.

The government has a deal with a Singaporean oil palm and tobacco producer to have it build and operate airports around the country for the next 50 years.

The deputy prime minister, Edward Natapei, has been quoted as saying staff of Airports Vanuatu Ltd will be dismissed but most would be re-employed by the new company.

However Mr Abel says all his staff know is what they have heard through the media.

"We have been kept in the dark for most of the discussions, so we just want the government to come and talk to us or someone to talk to us and tell us what is happening."

The general manager of Airports Vanuatu Ltd, Kevin Abel