In addition to arriving unannounced, the skipper of the yacht did not have in his possession a Required Departure Certificate of Clearance from the last port. The skipper admitted he did not formalize his outward clearance from Customs in Noumea.
Further, the skipper and the crews did not have their passports stamped or cleared by the immigration officials in Noumea. The skipper and the crews were also penalized by the immigration officials in Luganville.
Masters in Charge of Crafts that are en route to Vanuatu are reminded and advise to must provide an Advance Notice at least a minimum of 24 hours of its arrival.
Failure to do so is an Offence committed under the provisions of Customs Laws as per section 27(3).
In addition it is very important for Masters in charge of Crafts arriving in Vanuatu must deliver to Customs the Certificate of Clearance granted to the Master at the last port of departure within 12 hours of the crafts arrival.
Failure to do so is also an Offence committed under the provisions of Customs Laws as per section 32 (3).
All Masters and /or Skippers of the Small Crafts/yachts are advice to note the above Vanuatu Customs requirements accordingly.
The Road Traffic Section of the Vanuatu Police Force initiated and conducted a joint traffic control operation on 06th June 2014 which also involved the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue, Luganville Municipal Council, and Public Works.
Later this year the Rates & Taxes office assisted the Police and Municipal Wardens to conduct Zero Tolerance Operation within the Port Vila municipality and the surrounding villages. The purpose of this joint operation was to clamp down on criminal elements following the recent rise in brutal killings and other related activities. Rates and Taxes assistance was limited to areas surrounding the enforcement of the Liquor License Act and the Road Traffic Control Act.
During the course of the exercise all liquor outlets were inspected and monitored. This is to ensure that they have a valid license and that their operations are within the approved timeframes. Several outlets were forced to close because they have exceeded their opening hour limits and a few others for operating without a valid license. Apart from night clubs which would normally sell liquor until 3 in the morning, the rest depending on their approved time limits should close by at least 11:30 at night.
A number of owners have been remanded overnight for failing to comply with Police orders and likely charges will be laid against them. Under section 24 of the liquor license Act selling liquor without a license carries a fine, which upon conviction ranges from VT 50,000 to VT 100,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both.
It is advisable that current license holder and those intending to venture into this business seek more information from the Rates & Taxes office. For those intending to renew their license next year, it is important that they lodge their application in November as it is a long process involving not only DCIR but Port Vila Municipal Council, the Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Apart from liquor license enforcement, the operation also saw a number of motorists penalized for failing to show prove of valid driver’s license, public vehicle permit, 2013 road tax and other related offenses under the Road Traffic Control Act and its subsequent regulations. Apart from non renewal of road tax which carries a 50% penalty from 1 April every year, other offenses are penalized within Police jurisdiction which ranges from VT 5,000 to VT 10,000 per offense????
Further, since the year end is a month away all vehicle owners are advised to get their vehicles ready for 2014 road tax registration, and that is to have their vehicles undergo Road Worthy Inspections. The Public Works Workshop at No. 2 area has this month begun conducting inspections and it is done every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Inspection fees will have to be paid at Finance cashier before vehicles can be taken up for inspection.
