Transport problems in South Pacific countries: a study of Vanuatu: Fid-Bau Portal

Transport problems in South Pacific countries: a study of Vanuatu

Parkash†, Sat

This paper addresses transport problems faced by small island countries, it discusses in some detail the situation in Vanuatu in the South Pacific and seeks to suggest directions in which solutions might be sought. Some of the principal features of the country are: low income and lack of capital; low population density; long distances between different islands and between the country and the rest of the world; and a low level of human skills. The main problem is to find the financial resources and trained manpower to build and to maintain transport infrastructure. On account of low levels of traffic and low utilization of facilities, returns on transport investments are low and it becomes difficult to justify investments in strictly financial or economic terms. This restricts the ability to secure funding from external sources. Due to the Government's budgetary situation, even maintenance of facilities becomes difficult. The main dilemma is how to achieve economic development without proper transport links. The author suggests that in these developing countries, returns from transport investments might be interpreted somewhat broadly to take into account the contribution of transport to social and economic development such as health and education. The paper analyses the problems of each mode of transport in Vanuatu. Both the problems and the solutions suggested have relevance for many other small developing countries.