Contract signed for Lenakel and Litzlitz wharf repairs

Vanuatu’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities has signed a contract this week with the New Zealand-owned Fletcher Construction Company to repair wharfs on Tanna and Malekula.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jay Ngwele, signed the contract for repairs of the Lenakel Wharf on Tanna and Litzlitz Wharf on Malekula.

The repair work is estimated to cost around VT130 million and should take six months to complete with the New Zealand Government and the Asian Development Bank funding the projects.

Mr Ngwele says the people of Tanna and Malekula have waited a long time for government to repair the two wharves which he says are a vital link for local people and businesses and to the major centres of Port Vila and Luganville.

Mr Ngwele says both wharves are in very poor condition and need major improvements.

The projects are part of the Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Support Project managed by the Vanuatu Project Management Unit.

The Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Support Project aims to improve critical links between Vanuatu’s scattered islands and will construct new wharves and jetties on seven islands including Tanna, Malekula, Santo and Efate.

Fletcher Construction Company Manager, Anthony Care, says he will make sure the repair works in Tanna and Malekula are completed within the six months required.

“We are proud to have won the tender to work on the two wharves,” Mr Care said.

Mr Care says the new contract comes just over 20 years since the repair of the Lenakel Wharf.

“In 1999, we were part of the third construction of the Lenakel Wharf, also on Tanna, and I have to say it has been through many cyclones,” he said.