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Meteorology Act

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
CONSOLIDATED EDITION 2006

Commencement: 24 April 1989

CHAPTER 204
METEOROLOGY

Act 4 of 1989

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1. Interpretation
2. Vanuatu Meteorological Service
3. Director of the Service
4. Officers of the Service
5. Continuance of officers
6. Functions of the Service
7. Powers of the Director
8. Charges
9. Regulations

METEOROLOGY

An Act to provide for the establishment of the Vanuatu Meteorological Service and for matters connected therewith.

1. Interpretation

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires –

"the Service" means the Vanuatu Meteorological Service established under this Act;

"the Director" means the Director of the Vanuatu Meteorological Service;

"the Joint Meteorological Department" means the Joint Meteorological Department established under the Joint Regulation No. 12 of 1956.

2. Vanuatu Meteorological Service

(1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a Meteorological Service.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10 of this Act, the Joint Meteorological Department shall be deemed to be the Service established under this Act.

3. Director of the Service

(1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a Director who shall be appointed by the Public Service Commission.

(2) The Director shall be in charge of the Service and shall, subject to the directions of the Minister, have the general administration of this Act.

4. Officers of the Service

The Public Service Commission may appoint such other officers as it deems fit to be officers of the Service.

5. Continuance of officers

All officers serving in the Joint Meteorological Department at the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been appointed as officers of the Service in accordance with this Act.

6. Functions of the Service

(1) The functions of the Service shall be as follows –

(a) the taking and recording of meteorological observations and other observations required for the purposes of meteorology;

(b) the forecasting of weather and of the state of the atmosphere;

(c) the exclusive responsibility for the issue of warnings of gales, storms and other weather conditions likely to endanger life or property, including weather conditions likely to give rise to floods or storm surges;

(d) the supply of meteorological information;

(e) the publication of meteorological reports and bulletins;

(f) the promotion of the use of meteorological information;

(g) the promotion of the advancement of meteorological science, by means of meteorological research and investigation or otherwise;

(h) the furnishing of advice on meteorological matters;

(i) the setting of standards for all observations used for general, aviation, maritime and other forecasts and where such observations are used for legal purposes; and

(j) co-operation with the authority administering the meteorological service of any other country or with any appropriate international organization in relation to any of the matters specified in the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, and in particular, supporting the principle of free and unrestricted exchange of meteorological data between national meteorological services.

(2) The Service shall perform its functions under this Act in the public interest generally and in particular –

• (a) for the purposes of navigation and shipping and of civil aviation; and
  
• (b) for the purposes of assisting persons and authorities engaged in primary production, industry, trade and commerce.
  

7. Powers of the Director

The Director has such powers as are necessary to enable the Service to perform its functions under the last preceding section, and, in particular, may –

(a) establish meteorological offices and observing stations;

(b) arrange with any Department, authority or person to take and record meteorological observations and transmit meteorological reports and information;

(c) arrange means of communication for the transmission and reception of meteorological reports and information; and

(d) arrange for the training of persons in meteorology.

8. Charges

The Director may, subject to any directions of the Minister and subject to regulations made under section 9, make charges for forecasts, information, advice, publications and other matter supplied in pursuance of this Act.

9. Regulations

The Minister may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.