LOCAL NEWS vanuatu Daily Post | Tuesday, September 27, 2016 [ 5 ] South Vanuatu Tourism in Torba promising Archaeological Australian gov’t applauded Survey for its contribution q From Page 4 Tanna By Anita Roberts Department of Tourism on Tanna is another island that December last year. has a relatively limited history Tourism in Torba province Just last week, nearly 10 of archaeological research. looks promising and its small tourism new products were The Shutlers excavated beautiful islands are looking declared open to visitors on the three caves in 1964 and forward to welcoming more second biggest island, Gaua, found burials in two of the tourists in the upcoming having met all DOT’s standards. caves. More recently (2011 months/years now that more It includes five new — 2015) Dr James Flexner new tourism products have been bungalows, four tours and one has been studying mission developed. attraction site. sites in Waisisi, Lenakel and The Department of Tourism Chez Maureen, Tammesse Kwamera. On Tanna the (DOT) found it very hard to Bungalows, Wongrass Travel team split into two groups. promote tourism in Torba in Lodge, Peba and Weul Bungalows One group went to Kwamera previous years. all fall under the category of to investigate possible work Today, the province is still island style bungalow. Two to be done in the future facing problems uncommon to accredited women’s water and the other team went to other provinces as infrequent music groups and two newly Lowanpakel, in the northern shipping to and from the islands built campsites were part of the part of Tanna, to search for and poor market infrastructure. tours including Lake Letas as the signs of early settlement. Communication is also poor. newly launched attraction site. First Secretary of the Australian High Commission, Alison George, during an inspection of the Wongrass Bungalow At Kwamera previous However, compared to other According to the TVET excavations had been provinces, Torba has untapped Consultant, Pascal Guillet, one conducted by Flexner around abundant resources and its of the bungalows is a new the mission church and cultures are unique with a product while four of the others Reverend Watt and Reverend wealth of beautiful scenery existed before TVET came to Matherson’s houses. In one that remains some of Vanuatu’s the province but with limited of the excavations a skeleton mysteries. knowledge to meet tourist needs was uncovered near the Two years just after setting and expectations. doorstep of Rev Watt’s house up at Sola on Vanua Lava, the Coaching after coaching, all which remains date back to Australian government-funded businesses have met required 800 years ago. There are Technical and Vocational standards and will be marketed plans to continue excavations Education Training (TVET) internationally through the around the mission site where Program, through its Torba Sanma and Torba Call Centre. the human remains were TVET Centre, has done General Manager of the found. Around the point substantial work with the DOT Vanuatu Tourism Office, Linda from Kwamera, in Kwaraka, to improve tourism standards Kalpoi, said the recent launching there are a series of basalt and marketing. of these tourism products proved stone walls and mounds. So far, over 20 local businesses that Torba is now ready for One of Gaua’s accredited women’s water music Flexner and people of the area on Mota Lava, Gaua and Rah tourism and so it is high time have already mapped and Islands, ranging from cultural that VTO shift its focus to market Marokon Alilee, has urged the The next day after the President of Torba Provincial excavated some of the stone festivals, tours and bungalows the province. people from Torba especially launching, the national airline Government Council, Erick structures but there is need for engaged in the ‘TVET for There is so much to showcase those involved in tourism, not announced the arrival of a new Shedrack, encouraged everyone; further mapping to be done Tourism Skills’ program have about Torba to the world, she to complain but keep striving to twin otter aircraft (YJ-AV12) villagers, chiefs and community to complete the recording. been marketed internationally. added. meet standards. that will be based on Santo to leaders including stakeholders Oral traditions suggest that It includes seven bungalows Despite the remoteness of “The government is working service the northern province. to accept the challenge and these stone structures were on Mota Lava and Rah that the islands, the Director General to increase the number of visitors This will boost tourism for the cooperate for the province’s probably recent and were have been launched by the of the Ministry of Tourism, to Vanuatu,” he said. province. betterment. built by either Aneityumese and/or early Samoan traders. Lowanpakal, on the northernmost tip of Foundation stone for a dispensary for Lati village Tanna, has one of the few sheltered bays on the island. By Jonas Cullwick in our village,” he said adding Excavations were conducted that there had been deaths that there on one side of the bay The Minister of Health, could have been prevented if and on the last day pottery Toara Daniel, and the Minister there was a health facility in sherds were found in a testpit of Finance and Economic their area. in a cave site. The potential of Management (MFEM), The population is between the area was first identified by Gaetan Pikioune, jointly 400 and 500 people. They Jimmy Takaronga many years laid a foundation stone for a have a facility in a nearby ago, who understandably dispensary for Lati village on village but it has not been was very pleased with the East Santo, several kilometers operational for a longtime result exclaiming “Yumi south of Hog Harbour during as a result of neglect and no makas!” when the first their joint visit of the area. Due they requested the Minister sherds appeared. Richard to a delay in their schedule of Health to locate one with Shing added that “this is an they arrived at the village late them which they promise to important discovery since in the afternoon. look after properly. it is the first sign of pottery The chief thanked the two They have requested 100 on the island of Tanna, and ministers and their delegation blocks and 24 sheets of roofing it probably dates back more for their presence at Lati village iron which they will contribute than 2,000 years.” More work at such late hour as “very for a building to house such as will be done next year on meaningful” to the community health facility. this site to find the extent of that spreads to as far as Lelek The MFEM and Member of the settlement and if earlier and two other nearby villages. Parliament for Santo, Gaetan Minister Toara Daniel (l) and Minister Gaetan Pikioune lay the foundation stone for a dispensary at Lati village during a joint tour of Santo last week. Lapita pottery might be found. “When we have the sick Pikioune, thanked the people The team would particularly among us we must take them – women, men and children However, he signaled that for taxation reform including The Minister of Health like to thank the communities to Hog Harbour dispensary and for being patient and waiting there may be no funding income tax and corporate accepted the petition from of Ipau on Futuna, Imale our pregnant mothers must go for them until the evening and available for the project this tax saying it was crucial for the people in his brief speech and Itangutu on Aniwa, and to Port Olry, if not the Northern said as MP for rural Santo he year and maybe next year or increasing government revenue and they proceeded to lay the Kwamera and Lowanpakal on District Hospital in Luganville. was happy to accompany the the following year. Then he to meet the increasing needs of foundation stone in a coconut Tanna for their enthusiastic “That is why we are Minister of Health to lay the took the opportunity as at other the country for social services plantation close to the village support and participation in requesting a health facility such foundation stone for their places the delegation went to including education, health and where the people had agreed to this initial phase of the three as a dispensary to be located request. promote the government’s plan infrastructure development. locate the health facility. year project.