The executive director of Transparency Vanuatu, Willie Tokon says while "politicians are playing up, fighting for power and squabbling" many civil servants do not see the point in turning up to work.
The 28th of September marks world 'right to information day', a right Mr Tokon says nations across the pacific do not have.
He says he has been trying to set up a department that give citizens the right to access government documents since 2017 now.
Mr Tokon spoke with RNZ Pacific's Lydia Lewis.