" that there is already a World Bank (or similar) loan available to fund the repairs, which was made available after TC Pam resulted in significant acceleration of the deterioration."
Ahhhh! But how to distribute it? There's me who should get a share, and then my relative, and his second brother ............. and on it goes.
"Not sure why it hasn't been started, but presumably this will take some months to undertake"
Not familiar with the Pacific, are you? Try years in lieu of months.
Troppo nailed it. Vanuatu is one of many examples in the Pacific, and Africa, where the locals were better off under different circumstances. National pride comes at a price.