By Len Garae
Marc Neil-Jones Photo: David Robie
The publisher of Vanuatu's only daily newspaper Marc Neil-Jones has passed away on Monday following a long illness.
Jones, 67, a British national, was a world traveller in his younger years, who teamed up with his business partner in Papua New Guinea, Gene Wong, before they both settled in Port Vila to do business.
They bought a small business publication called Trading Post and turned it into a weekly newspaper.
The publication developed into the Vanuatu Daily Post, the sole newspaper publication in the country.
Neil-Jones retired in 2015 after more than two decades of breaking the biggest news stories out of Vanuatu.
While confirming his business partner's passing, Wong said messages of condolences are flowing in both from both the government and the private sector.
Wong said that Neil-Jones' body is being kept in the Vila Central Hospital mortuary and will be moved to the Mele Maat Village cemetery for burial on Wednesday.
"As the founder of the Trading Post Vanuatu, which later became the Vanuatu Daily Post, his fearless pursuit of press freedom and dedication to truth has left an indelible mark on the country's media landscape," YTS News reported.
"Marc faced numerous hurdles throughout his career-imprisonment, deportation, threats, and physical attacks-but he never wavered. His sense of fairness and his commitment to truth were unwavering, even when the challenges seemed insurmountable.
"His personal integrity and passion for his work left a lasting impact on the development of independent journalism in Vanuatu, ensuring that the country's media continued to evolve and grow despite the odds.
"Marc Neil-Jones' legacy is immeasurable. He not only created a platform for independent news in Vanuatu, but he also became a symbol of resilience and a staunch defender of press freedom.
The report stated his work had influenced generations of journalists, and his fight for the truth has shaped the media landscape in the Pacific.
"Rest in peace, Marc Neil-Jones. Your legacy will live on in every headline, every report, and every story told with truth and integrity."
