STRANDED families from the Western Province stuck in Honiara since the lockdown and outbreak of COVID-19 community transmission last month will return home.
That’s according to the Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Oversight Committee (PDOC) Jeffrey Wickham.
Speaking to Solomon Star Gizo in an interview on Monday, Mr Wickham said MV Fair Glory will be available to return those stranded families and passengers to Western Province that were stuck for almost a month in Honiara.
Mr Wickham said MV Fair Glory will depart Honiara on February 28TH.
“Those stranded families that stuck in Honiara including any desperate passengers that got caught up by this lockdown, now is the chance,” he said.
However, he said those travelling on the February 28th trip must be fully vaccinated (two doses) and have the certified vaccination card.
He said MV Fair Glory will be stopping over at the following ports; Seghe, Noro and Gizo.
“The reason we choose these ports is due to the availability of clinic facilities, COVID-19 testing capabilities and quarantine centres,” the chairman said.
Many of those stranded families were spending their holidays in Honiara and other provinces; others were here for sports, business and education.
They stuck in Honiara after the government implemented restrictions on the movement of people out from the Honiara Emergency Zone at the start of the COVID-19 community transmission in Honiara last month.
Since then they have been calling on the Western Provincial Government to send them back to the province.
Yesterday Mr Wickham said the arrangement has been secured.
Meanwhile, Mr Wickham said those stranded in Western Province and want to return to Honiara must also be fully vaccinated with two jabs with a certified vaccination card.
“Everyone must go through testing before they can be able to enter Honiara,” he warned.
By ULUTAH GINA
Gizo NEWS BUREAU
