LOYALTY Islands President, Mathias Waneux, has urged New Caledonia’s congress to act urgently on the Betico 3 replacement project before a critical June deadline.
The 3.4 billion franc project, which involves the replacement of the current catamaran in service since 2009, faces potential collapse because elected officials have been absent from Finance Committee sessions, instead focusing on the June 28 provincial elections.
Two committee meetings have been postponed due to lack of quorum. The new vessel is crucial to connecting mainland Nouméa to the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands.
Australian manufacturer Austal has given New Caledonia until the end of June to make a first payment of 280 million francs and provide financing guarantees.
Failure to meet this deadline could result in losing the reserved construction slot. If no action is taken before provincial elections, a decision would be delayed until late July—too late to secure the position.
“The purchase of this new ship is unanimous within political groups,” Waneux said, “but when it comes to looking into the Betico file, nobody seems interested.”
The project is financed through local and national tax exemptions totaling 2.5 billion francs, with bank loans guaranteed by New Caledonia at 50 per cent.
The government approved the guarantee on May 13, but Congress validation is still required.
Adding pressure, Sudîles employees filed a strike notice for June 26-29 to protest the inaction. Union representative Stéphanie Leclercq described it as “a cry for help,” because the aging Betico requires frequent repairs and risks interrupting maritime service, threatening fifty jobs. The province has already invested 100 million francs in repairs.
Waneux also addressed the upcoming Betico refit from July 4, which will leave Ouvéa and Maré without maritime service for four weeks. He called on local collectives to allow Aircal to resume island flights, because no alternative transport is planned for the Loyalty Islands
