LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
CONSOLIDATED EDITION 2006

Commencement: 11 July 1941

CHAPTER 16
CLOSED DISTRICTS

JR 12 of 1941

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1. Interpretation
2. Power to declare closed district
3. Entry into closed district prohibited
4. Licence to enter closed district
5. Revocation of licence
6. Penalty for entering without a licence
7. Offences by licensees
8. Recovery of expenses from licensee
9. Penalty for offence

CLOSED DISTRICTS

To provide for the declaration of closed districts.

1. Interpretation

In this Act and in any Orders made thereunder –

"licence" means a licence granted under the provisions of this Act and "licensee" means a person holding a licence which has not expired and has not been revoked;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for home affairs.

2. Power to declare closed district

The Minister may by Order declare any islands, island or part of an island to be a closed district.

3. Entry into closed district prohibited

No person shall enter or remain in a closed district except –

(a) inhabitants of the closed district;

(b) other persons or classes of persons who may be exempted by order of the Minister; 

(c) Government officers and persons acting under the orders of the Minister in the course of their duty;

(d) licensees.

4. Licence to enter closed district

(1) For such period as he may determine the Minister may grant or renew a licence to enter a closed district and may if he thinks fit prescribe conditions (which shall be endorsed upon the licence) upon which such licence is granted or renewed and may also as a condition precedent to the grant or renewal of a licence require the proposed licensee to furnish security either in cash or by bond for the observance of the conditions, which amount shall also be endorsed on the licence.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sections 6, 7 and 8, the security furnished by any licensee shall be returned to him on the expiry, non-renewal or revocation of any licence issued under this Act.

5. Revocation of licence

(1) The Minister may at any time revoke a licence.

(2) Notice of revocation shall be given in writing to the licensee and shall be served personally or by registered post.

(3) Such revocation shall take effect from the date of receipt of such notice by the licensee or from such later date as the Minister may by such notice prescribe.

6. Penalty for entering without a licence

Subject to the provisions of section 3 hereof any person entering or being in a closed district without a licence or remaining in a closed district after the expiry or revocation of his licence shall be guilty of an offence and in addition to any other penalty shall be liable to repay to the Minister any expenses entailed upon the Government by any action taken in connection with such offence.

7. Offences by licensees

If a licensee commits a breach of the conditions endorsed upon his licence or does any act calculated to disturb the peace of a closed district or to cause the inhabitants of that district to be disaffected towards the Government he shall be guilty of an offence and in addition to any other penalty shall be liable to forfeit any security furnished by him.

8. Recovery of expenses from licensee

The Minister may recover from the licensee any expenditure incurred by the Government in rendering him assistance and shall be entitled to recover the amount of such expenditure out of any security furnished by him.

9. Penalty for offence

In addition to the forfeiture of security as provided by section 7, a person guilty of an offence under this Act or any Orders made thereunder shall be liable on conviction to pay a fine not exceeding VT 30,000 and imprisonment not exceeding 1 month or one or other of these penalties.