Page:Vanuatu constitution.pdf/23



CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU (1) Notwithstanding Articles 73, 74 and 75 land transactions between an indigenous citizen and either a non-indigenous citizen or a non-citizen shall only be permitted with the consent of the Government.

(2) The consent required under subarticle (1) shall be given unless the transaction is prejudicial to the interests of–
 * (a) the custom owner or owners of the land;
 * (b) the indigenous citizen where he is not the custom owner;
 * (c) the community in whose locality the land is situated; or
 * (d) the Republic of Vanuatu.

80. Government may own land

Notwithstanding Articles 73 and 74 the Government may own land acquired by it in the public interest.

81. Redistribution of land

(1) Notwithstanding Articles 73 and 74 the Government may buy land from custom owners for the purpose of transferring ownership of it to indigenous citizens or indigenous communities from over-populated islands.

(2) When redistributing land in accordance with subarticle (1), the Government shall give priority to ethnic, linguistic, customary and geographical ties.

82. Legislation for decentralisation

The Republic of Vanuatu, conscious of the importance of decentralisation to enable the people fully to participate in the government of their Local Government Region, shall enact legislation necessary to realize that ideal.

83. Local Government Councils

The legislation shall provide for the division of the Republic of Vanuatu into Local Government Regions and for each region to be administered by a Local Government Council on which shall be representatives of custom chiefs.

84. Bills for amendment of Constitution

A bill for an amendment of the Constitution may be introduced either by the Prime Minister or any other member of Parliament.

85. Procedure for passing Constitutional amendments Rh