Following weeks of heavy rain affecting parts of the country, several roads on the islands have been badly damaged, especially on Malekula.

Poor road conditions have raised serious concerns among public transport owners in North East and North West Malekula.

More than 20 public transport drivers stopped their services for over one hour to carry out community work to repair a damaged section of road at Leterangis on Wala mainland. Their effort aimed to allow vehicles to continue providing transport services for people travelling to Lakatoro.

One public transport owner told VBTC News that the road conditions are creating major challenges for their daily operations.

“We drivers are travelling on very bad roads and facing many challenges. The roads are damaged, and we keep paying for truck parts that get worn out. We cannot stop because we need the income and people need the service, but we continue to face these road challenges every day,” he said.

VBTC has not yet received any update from the Public Works Department on when repairs will be carried out on these damaged roads in North East Malekula.

Drivers also warned that the current road situation could be dangerous during emergencies, as vehicles may not be able to respond quickly and safely.

“In an emergency, we may not be able to rush because of the road condition. Someone could lose their life because the road is too damaged. We want the government to recognise the needs of drivers who are serving the people,” another driver said.

The drivers are now calling on the government to prioritise road infrastructure in Malekula so communities can benefit from safe and reliable transport services as part of national development efforts.