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Youth Parliamentarians who are volunteers for the Open Day attended an orientation session at the preparation workshop. (Photo: Vanuatu Parliament)
Port Vila, Vanuatu - The Vanuatu Parliament is inviting the general public to attend its Open Days which will be hosted on 4 and 5 October.
With the theme “Strengthening our Parliament in the spirit of our Constitution”, Parliament is hosting this event to bring awareness to the role of Parliament as a democratic institution and the history of the Vanuatu Constitution.
The first day will begin at 8 a.m. with an opening prayer, followed by speeches from select dignitaries before doors are opened to the general public at 9:45 a.m. where 10 constitutional offices will have information booths on display. A tour of the Parliament Complex, panel discussions and quizzes for both primary and secondary school children will also be part of the day’s events.
This is not the first time for Vanuatu Parliament to welcome the public to its normally restricted interiors. This year’s event is an exception due to a combined effort by constitutional offices to celebrate Constitution Day on 5 October.
The second day will begin with the commemoration of Constitution Day on the front lawn of the Parliament Complex at 7 a.m., where His Excellency President Obed Moses Tallis Temar Ne Were will take lead.
Mr Lionel Kaluat (right), the First Political Advisor to the Hon. Speaker, giving his opening remarks at the preparation workshop which was also attended by Clerk of Parliament Mr Raymond Manuake (left). (Photo: Vanuatu Parliament)
Public tours will begin at 10 a.m. on the second day. Like the previous day, there will be panel discussions as well as items on display, specifically targeted towards bringing awareness on the history of Vanuatu’s Constitution.
Parliaments are the central institution of democracy that embodies the will of the people in government; and together with the expectation that the system of democracy will be responsive to people’s needs and problems that confront them in their daily lives.
The event is being made possible with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) through its parliament support projects, Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI) funded by New Zealand and Strengthening Legislatures in the Pacific Island Countries (SLIP) funded by Japan. The New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu, the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu, and business houses such as Vodafone, UNELCO and Bred Bank have confirmed their support.
If you have a thirst for knowledge on how Parliament works or are curious to know how Vanuatu acquired its Constitution, this is your chance.
Preparation for the Vanuatu Parliament Open Days has started with youth who will be volunteers for the events. (Photo: Vanuatu Parliament)
For media queries, please contact:
Roslyn Jimmy, Hansard Editor – English, Hansard Division, Parliament Secretariat / Secrétariat du Parlement, P.M.B. 9052 | Email: jroslyn@vanuatu.gov.vu | Phone: 678 22229, 33060, Voip: 1889
Tomoko Kashiwazaki, Advocacy and Communications for Effective Governance, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | Email: tomoko.kashiwazaki@undp.org | Phone: +679 715 8051
