Local ship operators have delayed their intention to increase sea fares for another week.
The group had earlier announced sea fares will increase as of May the 1st.
But a spokesman told the Sunday Star yesterday the planned sea fare increase has been delayed by a week to give Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) the chance to address their disagreements.
“The SIPA board and management have assured us on Friday that they will reconsider the recent increases in charges they’ve imposed on us,” the spokesman said.
“We are giving them at least one week to reconsider the charges. After that we will meet and decide on the next step,” the spokesman added.
The delay to increase the fares comes after the High Court issued orders restraining controversial Colin Yow from entering the SIPA premises.
The increases in charges imposed on local ship operators was spearheaded by Yow, who has since been sacked by the SIPA board.
In an earlier statement, the operators said they feel SIPA as a State Owned Enterprise (SOE) and being a national government agency has failed to see the ongoing struggles of local ship owners in trying to provide the much needed shipping services to our people across these islands, majorities being indigenous.
“To the association, these increased charges and newly imposed charges are huge slap in the faces of its members, and is quite disheartening after many years of providing service that the national government has given up on many years.
“Where is the social justice in this? Is this kind of social responsibility approach SIPA is under taking in its reform strategy?”
The ship owners intend to increase their fares in the range of 50 percent to 100 percent with some as high as 150percent.
Freights of goods will also increase for different sectors of the country.
By LESLEY SANGA
