FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) has called on the DCC Government to immediately launch an investigation into Solomon Airlines.
The call came in light of last week’s sacking of Chief Pilot Captain Gibson Galo.
Mr Galo was reported to have said no reasons were given for his sacking except a stated clause 23(b) of his employment contract.
It was also reported the airline’s Chief Engineer (Domestic) Trevor Palmer was also demoted.
Insiders said MrPalmer,a very experienced and valued asset,is considering resigning following his forced relegation.
FSII earlier this year submitted a report to the Prime Minister through his Special Secretary, Rence Sore, calling on the government to quickly investigate the serious allegations raised in their submission.
A FSII statement said the report details the context for this FSII intervention within its civil society function.
“Questionable board decisions and relationships have been explored and exposed in the submission,” the statement said.
FSII recommended to the government to investigate Solomon Airlines and expatriate salaries and benefits as a ratio of revenue, demand valid explanations from Solomon Airline Board of Directors plus many other doubtful issues.
FSII further recommended that any future Solomon Airline CEO appointment must be employed on a performance based contract in line with local salary scales; split from the Chief Pilot role and theCEO role to be held by a citizen of Solomon Islands.
But since it submitted its submission, FSII said there was no official acknowledgement or information about their submission.
Mr Sore when accepting the submission told FSII delegation that the PM is aware of a lot of issues being raised about the Airlines; therefore the FSII submission is appropriate.
But the recent FSII statement said the group doubts the office of the Prime Minister’s genuineness to deal with the Airlines issue.
“Whether the PMO or the relevant ministry have established a task force to investigate the serious allegations raised in the report is something we are yet to be informed of,” the statement said.
“We are extremely disappointed about the long delay and would like the Prime Minister to immediately do the right thing – listen to its citizens, not protecting a state-owned enterprise that has been making financial losses for three consecutive years,” the FSII statement added.
“We felt that the alleged actions and conduct of the CEO and Board of Directors of Solomon Airlines appears to breach State Owned Enterprises Regulations (2010) 17,20, 22& 27, therefore the best way forward is to launch an investigation.”
FSII also called on the government especially the PM, a renowned patriotic leader,to immediately act on the submissions without delay.
“Doing so is a literal demonstration of dealing with corruption head-on,” FSII said.
“Failure to act swiftly may result in a mass resignation or a walk out of the remaining local pilots and engineers to other regional airlines,” the FSII statement warned.
The group also urged regulatory bodies such as the Civil Aviation and stakeholders to graciously accept the contents and recommendations of the FSII report as a true summation of FSII members’ understanding, concerns and expectations in relation to the alleged conduct of Solomon Airline’s CEO, its senior executives and its Board of Directors.
