A new Ministry of Youth, Justice and Community Services (MoJYCS) Provincial Hub in Sola and a Correctional Centre at Namal, Sisiol, on Vanua Lava Island are being developed to strengthen justice and community services in TORBA Province.

The Ministry broke ground on both projects on Monday, 5 October 2026, as part of activities linked to this year’s Constitution Day and the 2026 Public Service Day programme.

The Sola Provincial Hub will bring several MoJYCS services together in one location, providing a central point where people can seek assistance without having to visit different offices or travel elsewhere.

The Hub is intended to operate as a one-stop service point, improving access to justice and community services for people across TORBA, where communities are spread across several islands.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, MoJYCS Director General (DG) Bergmans Iati said the projects were about more than new buildings and reflected the Government’s commitment to making essential services more accessible in the provinces.

The new Correctional Centre at Namal, Sisiol, on Vanua Lava Island, will expand the Ministry’s correctional capacity and strengthen the delivery of justice services in TORBA.

The site identified for the facility is customary land, with customary landowners agreeing to sell the land to the Government for the development of the Correctional Centre.

The two developments form part of the Government’s wider decentralisation efforts to strengthen service delivery in the provinces and bring essential services closer to communities.

They are also part of the Government’s activities linked to the 2026 Public Service Day, which will officially open on Motalava Island this week.

As part of preparations for this year’s celebration, the 2026 Public Service Day Committee agreed that each of the 13 Government ministries should go beyond participating in the event by establishing or leaving behind projects and initiatives that provide lasting benefits to the people of TORBA.

The MoJYCS Provincial Hub and Correctional Centre are the Ministry’s contribution to that commitment.

The TORBA Provincial Government Council (TPGC) welcomed both developments, which will be established within its jurisdiction.

The projects will strengthen the Government’s presence in one of Vanuatu’s northernmost provinces while providing additional infrastructure for justice and community services.

The groundbreaking ceremonies were attended by MoJYCS DG Iati, Director Johnny Marango, Member of Parliament for Banks Constituency Danny Silas, representatives of the TPGC, provincial officers based in Sola and other stakeholders.