Right to Information

Our Provincial Awareness Team will be in Torba this week providing civic education together with officers from the Vanuatu National Youth Council and the Ombudsmans Office.

The team was so privileged to share the same space with the British High Commissioner onboard the HELPR-1 vessel where they'll be joined visits around Torba Province carrying out separate missions.

Right to Information (RTI) Officers help make government information accessible to the public. They receive information requests, assist applicants, promote good records management, and support transparency and accountability within public bodies.

The Vanuatu Office Of The Public Service Commission is to appoint a RTI Officer for each Government agency.

Their work helps strengthen public trust, improve government services, and ensure that people's right to know is respected.

Access to information starts with good records management and dedicated RTI Officers committed to serving the public.

More than 9,000 books, including rare works on Pacific history, languages and culture, have been donated to the Vanuatu National Library, creating one of the country’s largest collections of Pacific research materials.

Read more: https://www.dailypost.vu/news/9-000-book-donation-enriches-vanuatu-library/article_c3560f3f-ab84-5a04-8fcc-27217e05fa7e.html

Joinem Nasonal Rekods mo Infomesen Manejemen Komiti, National Archives & Library of Vanuatu mo Right to Information long namba 9 Jun 2026 blong selebretem Intanasonal Akaev Dei long Eratap Vilij. Lisin long radio Vanuatu this Saturday 7pm blong harem moa infomesen about International Akaev Dei selebresen. Kam blong save wanem wok we Nasonal Akaev hemi stap mekem mo wanem hemi gud rekods manejmen long gavman. Kolem Nasonal Akaev long telefon 22830 blong kasem mo infomsen.
Yu g*t raet blong kasem infomesen long eni pablik ofis. Yusum raet blong yu!
International Council on Archives - ICA

Acknowledgement and Appreciation – Mr. Harold Obed
The Right to Information Unit would like to express our sincere appreciation to our former Manager, Mr. Harold Obed, for his dedicated service and leadership.
Mr. Obed played an instrumental role in the early development and establishment of the Right to Information (RTI) in Vanuatu. His efforts helped lay a strong foundation for the growth of RTI awareness and implementation across our nation.
Mr. Obed has highlighted the importance of accurate and transparent information, particularly in contexts such as national referendums, where voters need clear explanations to make informed decisions. He has consistently argued that the public has a right to know what decisions are being made and that transparency is essential for a functioning democracy.
Harold Obed is a key figure in promoting transparency, accountability, and public engagement in Vanuatu. Through his leadership of the RTI Unit, public statements, and educational workshops, he works to ensure that government officials and citizens are informed and that government processes remain open and accessible.
We especially acknowledge his commitment to promoting RTI throughout the islands of Vanuatu – from Torba to Tafea provinces – ensuring that communities across Vanuatu are engaged and informed about their right to access government information.
While he will be greatly missed by the RTI Unit team, his contribution and legacy will continue to guide and strengthen our work into the future.
Thank you, Mr. Harold Obed, for your valuable service and lasting impact on Vanuatu's democracy.

📢 RTI Exemptions in Vanuatu

The RTI Act promotes access to government information, but some information is not released.

This includes:
🔒 Personal Information
🔒 Legal Privilege
🔒 Commercial and Confidential Information
🔒 Health and Safety
🔒 Law Enforcement
🔒 Defence and Security
🔒 Economic Interests of the State
🔒 Policy making and operations of Agencies
🔒 Information relating to protected sites and the environment
🔒 Decisions of the Council of Ministers
🔒 Decisions of the National Security Council

These are kept secret to protect government and national security matters.

📍 RTI Unit
📞 7366516
📧 [email protected]
📍 Presidential Palace, Joint Court Area

Joinem Nasonal Rekods mo Infomesen Manejemen Komiti, Nasonal Akaev mo Right to Information long namba 9 Jun 2026 blong selebretem Intanasonal Akaev Dei long Eratap Vilij. Kam blong save wanem wok we Nasonal Akaev hemi stap mekem mo wanem hemi gud rekods manejmen long gavman. Kolem Nasonal Akaev long telefon 22830 blong kasem mo infomsen.
Yu g*t raet blong kasem infomesen long eni pablik ofis.
International Council on Archives - ICA

FYI 📣📣📣📚 📚 The National Archives of Vanuatu, together with the National Records and Information Management Committee, will celebrate International Archives Day on 9 June 2026 as part of International Archives Week (8–12 June 2026) under the theme – Rights, Memory and Futures. 🏛️ The event highlights the importance of protecting and managing public records to support transparency, accountability, citizens’ rights, and good governance in Vanuatu. 🌿 Together, let us preserve our nation’s history and build a just, informed, and sustainable future for generations to come.