… SI reaping benefits after repayment of debts
GOVERNMENT has cleared off a debt of $2.5million with the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Minister of Communication and Aviation Peter ShanelAgovaka revealed this yesterdayat the official launching of the new national addressing system.
“My ministry has now settled Solomon Post’s $2.5million debt with Universal Postal Union (UPU).”
Mr Shanel said since the settlement Solomon Post has started receiving benefits provided by the UPU.
UPU is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.
Mr Shanel said this debt was an accumulation of arrears and interests since 1998.
“…and since I took office, me and my PS (permanent secretary) both agreed to pay all these debts.
“Now the Solomon Post is receiving benefits in the postal sector and some of those benefits are the entitlements to international and regional projects to training, fellowship and technical assistance from the UPN,” Mr Shanel said.
He also revealed that his ministry is planning to provide a banking system for all public servants through the Solomon Post services.
“There are a number of services we are putting forward to the postal sector, one is we are thinking of doing a banking service where we use the postal office to do banking.
“As you all know we have a lot of public servants in the provinces such as police officers, teachers, nurses, and doctors etc…who do not have banks in the provinces,” Mr Shanel said.
Regarding the new national addressing system, the minister said the launching of this system is a moment to be proud moment of.
“The What3Words is a state of the art addressing system which will improve our mailing system to be more effective,” Mr Shanel said.
He said locating addresses in our country is a major problem.
“A common problem we have in the country is addressing system.
“When I took office I found out we have no addressing system.
“Tourists and business people come to our country find to it difficult to find locations, offices and residents.
“One of the reforms I would like to do is to create an addressing system.
“So when What3Words came to the government I agreed to it,” he said.
Mr Shanel was given a one year subscription to the new system on Thursday by Solomon Post.
Solomon Post is one of the country’s state-owned enterprise (SOE).
By SIMON ABANA
