Construction of the new Malvatumauri Nakamal will not meet the targeted completion date of March 5, 2024, National Chiefs Day. The Chief Executive Officer of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Jean Pierre Tom, has instructed the contractor to complete the main works and erect the roof of the Nakamal before the cyclone season begins in November. However, there have been difficulties in transporting materials and especially wooden poles from the bush around Efate Island to the construction site.

They are also sourcing materials from other islands of Vanuatu, but nothing has come of it so far due to financial reasons. Most of the time they have had problems obtaining building materials, Tom said.

Mr. Jean Pierre Tom was very frustrated that the government has budgeted an amount of 35 million vatu for this project, but has not had access to the funds since the project began until now. He said the money was approved by Parliament.

He said the money was approved by Parliament earlier this year, but the National Treasury never released the money to Malvatumauri because access to the funds is very complicated and bureaucratic.

So far, the Malvatumauri office has spent well over 10 million vatu on its operating budget, and the money covers machinery and labour. He pointed out that during the campaign to raise funds for the reconstruction of Nakamal, donors pledged their support for the project, but since then nothing has happened.

The government and its agencies have until November to use up their 2023 budget, and Malvatumauri will never use the money for the Nakamal project until the government closes the budget of departments and ministries. This means that the 35 million vatu will be returned to the government's general budget for next year.