Page 16 - IB August 2020

Cover Cover

COVID-19 TO BRING 'PROSPERITY'

TO VANUATU

BUT VCC CHAIRMAN FEARS ECONOMIC INJUSTICE

By Len Garae

The Presbyterian Church Chairman of Vanuatu’s Christian
Council, Pastor Alain Nafuki, has thanked COVID-19 for en-
abling the country to focus hard on identifying the best way
towards prosperity for the country for the next 40 years.
Pastor Nafuki says God has allowed Vanuatu to face the
double impact of category 5 Cyclone Harold in the north of
the country and the globally devastating virus, which is bound
to change the current lifestyles of communities around the
world.
“Already I can see that COVID-19 is likely to change the
country for the better, as well as for the worse, for the next
40 years”, he says.
Asked to give an example of what ‘worse’ scenario he is
fearful of, he replies, “economic injustice”.
However he believes with over 90% of the country’s 230,000
people identifying as Christian, their faith will become their
safety net for the next 40 years. Prime Minister Bob Loughman at the recent Independence celebrations
“I am thankful that despite our tough challenges, the Gov- Photo: Australian High Commission, Vanuatu
ernment is also facing its responsibilities head- on, equipped
with its Christian faith, in line with the Nation’s motto of
‘Long God Yumi Stanap’, or ‘In God we Stand’.
“I have just signed an agreement with the Director of Public church leaders and our custom chiefs to bring our country this
Health, Mr. Len Tarivonda in the Ministry of Health to confirm far”, he says.
‘spiritual health’ as the fourth pillar to enable public health to “Perhaps they were not well educated but through their
function”. faith in God, they have successfully developed Vanuatu for 40
Pastor Nafuki supports the Government’s investment in agri- years.
culture. “We welcome the Government’s decision to allocate “But economically, my fear for the next 40 years is that
approximately 20% of its budget to the Ministry of Agriculture the gap between the rich and the poor is going to increase.
to develop the land to feed its people.” My concern for is how to decrease the gap between the two
Looking back into the history of Vanuatu, the VCC Chairman groups of people.
says one of biggest contributions of the Presbyterian Church of “Currently the gap is widening with those in parliament get-
the New Hebrides National Synod was the release of five of its ting richer while ordinary people are getting poorer.”
pastors from their spiritual duties to successfully contest the The VCC Chairman is also appealing to all churches in Vanu-
nation’s first election in 1980 and become part of the coun- atu to unite to listen to the Government while the Govern-
try’s first-ever parliament. ment listens to VCC. “As the Chairman of VCC, I am prayerful
“In Vanuatu, Elders Peter Taurakoto and Donald Kalpokas about my duties in how we as churches, address the nation.”
belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They set up the New “That is why the Vanuatu Government has come to recog-
Hebrides Cultural Association on Santo to disguise their real nise the role of the churches and approved Vt20 million
objective, which was to start a political party which evolved (US$176,900) in its budget for next year to VCC for the
to become the New Hebrides National Party that became the churches to fulfill their duties to ensure Christian love, unity
Vanua’aku Pati at Independence. and peace prevail throughout the country,” he confirms.
“It was during the Queen’s Birthday Celebrations under a He and the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have
mango tree at British Paddock in Luganville that they met “sealed” the agreement for the amount to be allocated to the
Anglican Church Priest, Father Walter Lini for the first time VCC budget next year.
and the start on the spirit of the long road to Independence He says the Government’s generosity towards VCC reflects
was ignited when Father Lini was elected President of the new their close working relationship.
political party at Own Hall about 1978-79.”
“Vanuatu for the last 40 years, has sacrificed through our editor@islandsbusiness.com

16 Islands Business, August 2020