Dear Editor – T. John of East Honiara in Solomon Star issue No. 6603 of Friday 26 May, 2017 has raised the above very important public concern.
I write as former employee of then (BSIPA) British Solomon Islands Ports Authority that imported goods must be checked properly and received in good order and condition on behalf of Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) by Warehouse Clerks and Stevedores responsible for all imported cargo handlings with all due respect to them.
The task is clear and simple for warehouse operations to check carefully and properly before final deliveries under Ports custody.
Imported goods received and physically checked in good order and condition and went missing within the custody of Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) is the liability of the Authority to recover the expenses.
In the same way missing items or goods on Board cargo vessels must be recorded by the Ports Cargo Tally Clerks and ship agents concern is duly responsible and liable to meet the expenses on behalf of the affected clients.
The process would be that customers affected have to lodge their claims of missing items to (SIPA) Solomon Islands Ports Authority be at Honiara and Noro declared national and international sea ports.
Briefly my interest with SIPA remains fresh in my mind when I first employed by then (BSIPA) British Solomon Islands Ports Authority on 1st of December 1973 as a junior security guard officer, and later transferred to the warehouse operations on June 1978.
We involve much on general duties looking after exports and imports under warehousing dealing with manifest bookings; deliveries; and clean up within the customs ports area.
I was assigned to look after exports and became cargo claims officer.
The last position I hold when I voluntarily retired on December 1995 was warehouse supervisor.
In 1989 I accompanied two work mates one from the Ports Stevedore section and Ports workshop to Suva Port Fiji, on attachment training and we had a chance to visit Lautoka and Levuka Ports.
While in Suva, we also had the privilege to participate on “Problem solving” and “decision making” which held at Fiji National Training Council with other Melanesian Pacific Ports workers attended.
There were other short courses that Ports Authority arrange locally on supervisory workshops on “dangerous goods safe handlings” and counter service.
My 24 years with Solomon Islands Ports Authority is rewarding and very challenging.
It is rewarding on better terms and working condition and very challenging to perform effectively and more efficiently.
Matt. Newton Waifo
Patutiva
Marovo lagoon
Western Province
