Vanuatu’s

live on TV

ON its 15th independence anniver sary, Vanuatu has gone one step further in its three-year old television project: it has officially opened its first studio, making it possible from now on to broadcast live from the capital.

The new facilities inaugurated by Vanuatu Prime Minister Maxime Carlot were also the site of the first interview broadcast live in the island state. France is funding the first two stages of the project to the tune of nearly SUSI. 7 million. The new facil ity also has satellite dish facilities which enable TV blong Vanuatu to receive broadcasts from overseas.

With the introduction of new pro duction facilities for Television blong Vanuatu, Prime Minister Carlot sees the possibility of using this new tool for this year’s general election at the end of November.

“Television is already here and from the very start, I had asked that arrangements be made for the end of my term, so that candidates at the gen eral elections be given the opportunity to do a television campaign,” he said.

“It’s not only because it is election year, this was planned long ago and this is part of our programme.

“I’m doing this for the future, and for the development; Vanuatu has to follow the trend. Like all other coun tries, it now has to use television. As a means of education, as a means of pro paganda, as a means of development, religion and custom. I think it’s great, this is Vanuatu leaping forward as far as technology and development are concerned.”