Vanuatu Constitution Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu celebrates Constitution Day on October 5 as a national holiday. It commemorates the 1979 ratification of the nation’s constitution. The ratification of the constitution paved the way for Vanuatu’s independence on July 30, 1980, from France and the United Kingdom. It is a day that represents a turning point toward the country’s sovereignty after years of struggle, demonstrating the leaders of Vanuatu’s commitment to a shared objective.

The background of Vanuatu Constitution Day

Vanuatu is comprised of 83 volcanic islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Prior to the arrival of Europeans around the 16th century, it was predominantly ruled by indigenous chieftains and tribes.

France and the United Kingdom vied for control of the island chain known as the New Hebrides in the 19th century. In 1906, both nations agreed to share colonial authority over the islands through a unique Anglo-French condominium. During this time, Vanuatu was predominantly used as a plantation hub, but its condominium government proved to be highly ineffective due to both powers’ persistently competing interests.

In the 1960s, the independence movement of Vanuatu acquired momentum due to the failure of both colonial powers to economically develop the country. Particularly contentious was the fact that plantations were acquiring more and more native-owned land. After the detention and release of prominent Vanuatuan leaders Jimmy Stevens and Chief Paul Tari Buluk, who were detained for opposing these land encroachments, the calls for independence grew louder.

In 1971, influential cleric Walter Lini founded the New Hebrides National Party, a prominent force in the independence movement. Eventually, the party gained traction, and by 1977, it was advocating for immediate independence under an anglicized central government controlled by locals. Thus, a committee composed of representatives of political parties, religious leaders, and tribal chiefs drafted a formal constitution. It was signed in 1979 and went into effect in 1980, when the New Hebrides at last became independent as Vanuatu.

Constitution Day is celebrated and observed throughout the archipelago by leaders delivering speeches, conducting special public ceremonies, and holding special events. It is a day commemorating the document that signified the nation’s moment of independence.

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5 fascinating facts about Vanuatu

A tribe on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu worships Prince Philip, the British monarch, believing him to be a spiritual ancestor’s descendant.

The name ‘Vanuatu’ is derived from the Melanesian words ‘vanua’ (land) and ‘tu’ (remain in/on).

Since 1300 B.C., Vanuatu has been inhabited, with the Lapita being the first to appear on the archipelago.

On the island of Pentecost, a Vanuatuan tribe invented bungee leaping.

Vanuatu, like 21 other nations, does not have a standing militia.

VANUATU CONSTITUTION DAY DATES