THERE is now mounting concern over the increasing number of people queuing as early as 4am to get police clearance at the Police Headquarters, Rove, in Honiara.
Photos of the early morning queues have gone viral via social media this week as hundreds wait since 4am for the office to open at 8am.
Early this morning (Wednesday 22nd February) an estimated 300 people were already queuing at the front gate.
There were suggestions that some have slept at the front gate.
Despite the demand for police clearance, only 180 people are able to get their police clearance letter each day, the rest will have to return the next day.
Many of those requesting police clearance are applicants for the labour mobility scheme, returning students, visitors and those seeking employment in the country.
Since Monday this week the endless queues have caused frustration to many of those who had to queue up and beat the heat of the sun just to get a chance to be served.
With this high demand for police clearance, many have called on the police administration to consider establishing spots where police clearance work can be conducted in a number of locations around Honiara instead of just one location.
Others suggested that police need to impose a numbering system and also to increase the number of officers dealing with police clearance.
Some also suggested the need to submit online receipts and documents to police.
The rush to get police clearance comes as the date to submit online applications for the labour mobility scheme will open next week.
In the past weeks, there were also endless queues at the immigration office for those submitting applications for passports.
To avoid this, the office has asked applicants to submit letters on which a daily list is drawn up and pinned for attendance.
Meanwhile, in Western Province, police clearance can only be done at Noro.
This has denied many people from surrounding islands from getting their police clearance done because of the cost involved to travel to Noro, especially from Gizo.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
