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(+678) 33160 | 23450
The Public Solicitor's Office received a formal invitation from Mr. Nick Karu, Deputy Principal of Central School, to participate in the Careers Talk Day held on the school premises. The event spanned two days, from 19th to 20th February. Our team was scheduled to present on the 20th, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
PORT VILA, DECEMBER 5: Specialist lawyers from the Australian Government Solicitor’s office travelled to Port Vila to assist Vanuatu’s legal community in their efforts to deliver justice for crime victims and uphold the rule of law in communities.
Extensive investments in professional development are underway across Vanuatu’s justice sector, and to supplement these activities, teams from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Office of the Public Solicitor, the Office of the Attorney General, the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission, and the Vanuatu Women’s Centre are receiving training from Australian specialists to enhance their essential legal and professional ethics skills.
PORT VILA, DECEMBER 1: The Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) unanimously endorsed an ambitious reform program at its 2025 Annual Planning Conference. Marking an important milestone in the Office’s long-term efforts to strengthen legal aid services across Vanuatu, lawyers from across the country concluded detailed consideration of the Consultative and Policy Paper for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026.
The OPS plays a vital role in defending human rights, providing legal advice and representation in criminal, civil and family law cases, and supporting vulnerable groups including women, children and marginalised communities. Operating permanent offices in Port Vila, Santo, Tanna and Malekula, with circuit work to other islands, the OPS works to ensure that people across Vanuatu can access timely and fair legal support. The Office continues to face significant pressures, including rising case numbers, increasing legal complexity, and a current backlog of more than 600 active files.
This year’s conference in Port Vila was the first convened by Acting Public Solicitor, Ms Jane Tari, and the most significant OPS conference in many years. Across 34 hours of discussion and analysis, staff approved the Consultative and Policy Paper that forms the foundation for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026, alongside major organisational plans including the new Staff Manual, new Finance Regulations and the 2026 Business Plan.
“Our mission at the Office is to serve as many people as we can across the country. To deliver on that goal we need to reform our internal processes and reimagine our role within the justice
system,” said Ms Tari.
The Office of the Public Solicitor of Vanuatu (OPS Vanuatu) and the Office of the Public Solicitor of Papua New Guinea (OPS PNG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Port Vila, marking a significant step in strengthening justice services and deepening ties between the two Melanesian neighbours.
The MOU reinforces a shared commitment to improve access to justice through cooperation in legal aid development, professional training, policy collaboration, and institutional strengthening.
Acting Public Prosecutor Jane Tari noted that the partnership began with the introduction of the Wantok Legal Network program in August 2024, followed by a courtesy visit from the PNG Public Solicitor in June 2024. Momentum increased in August 2025 when OPS Vanuatu officers Senior Henzler Vira and Glenn Talae travelled to PNG to refine the MOU framework and identify mutual training opportunities.
(Standing from Left to Right: Ms Linda B, Mrs Tofor, Ms Kara & Mr John Eta)
On the 6th May 2025 the staffs from the Office of the Public Solicitor in Port Vila went to Ulei Junior Secondary School to do our first ever 2025 Legal Awareness. It was a half day awareness. (Morning Hours). The team that was present at that time were Senior Solicitor Ms Linda Bakokoto, Solicitor Ms Cecile Dehinevanua Tofor, Ms Hilkka Kara Filing & Asset Officer and Mr John Eta Driver/ Messenger.
The Public Solicitor of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Leslie B Mamu paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Public Solicitor in Vanuatu this week. The Public Solicitor (Acting) Ms. Jane K Tari and her team met with Mr. Mamu at the OPS, Port Vila on 12 June 2025.
It has been number of years now that the Vanuatu-Australia Policing Justice Program is assisting the Office of the Public Solicitor through the financial support.
Date: October 7, 2024
Prepared by : Mr. Regi Melsul Temankill
Picture of Legal awareness taken during Tafea Day Celebration at Imlao village, Tanna, on October 07, 2024.
Office of the Public Solicitor
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Port Vila
(+678) 33160 | 23450
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