LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Consolidated Edition 2006
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
unless such person is an enemy alien.
(2) Regulations made by the Council of Ministers in accordance with Article 69 shall be such as are reasonably necessary in the circumstances of the emergency to which they relate and as are justifiable in a democratic society.
72. Complaints to Supreme Court concerning emergency regulations
Any citizen aggrieved by reason of regulations made by the Council of Ministers in accordance with Article 69 may complain to the Supreme Court which shall have jurisdiction to determine the validity of all or any of such regulations.
CHAPTER 12 – LAND
73. Land belongs to custom owners All land in the Republic of Vanuatu belongs to the indigenous custom owners and their descendants.
74. Basis of ownership and use The rules of custom shall form the basis of ownership and use of land in the Republic of Vanuatu.
75. Perpetual ownership
Only indigenous citizens of the Republic of Vanuatu who have acquired their land in accordance with a recognised system of land tenure shall have perpetual ownership of their land.
76. National land law Parliament, after consultation with the National Council of Chiefs, shall provide for the implementation of Articles 73, 74 and 75 in a national land law and may make different provision for different categories of land, one of which shall be urban land.
77. Compensation
Parliament shall prescribe such criteria for the assessment of compensation and the manner of its payment as it deems appropriate to persons whose interests are adversely affected by legislation under this Chapter.
78. Disputes
(1) Where, consequent on the provisions of this Chapter, there is a dispute concerning the ownership of alienated land, the Government shall hold such land until the dispute is resolved.
(2) The Government shall arrange for the appropriate customary institutions or procedures to resolve disputes concerning the ownership of custom land.
79. Land transactions
