NEW Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID) Jimmy Lusibaea may not renew contracts of the current members of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) board headed by Nollen Leni, an insider source confirmed to the Solomon Star.
The SIPA board which includes chairman Mr Leni and members, Jane Waetara, Moses Virivolomo, Pascal Ohoau and John Kenneth have been appointed under the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act in 2010.
Insider source claimed due to a number of allegations leveled against Mr Leni, the new Minister has indicated his intention to appoint a new replacement board to lead the statutory corporate enterprise in the next four years.
He said current SIPA board under Leni’s chairmanship had come under controversial criticism over its stand alongside the new Chief Executive Officer, Colin Yow in a stand-off against the SIPA workers union who resorted to the issuance of a 28-days strike notice in March this year.
He claimed the stand-off between the workers trade union, the board and the management was sparked by the workers demand for the removal of Mr Leni, the CEO, Mr Yow and ten Singaporeans illegally engaged in jobs with SIPA without valid work permits.
He said the workers further demanded the immediate halt to the “SIPA Reform Programme” initiated by the Singaporean consultants, describing the programme as a clever cover up for what appears to be a money laundering scheme the consultants have set up at the Ports Authority with the backing support from Mr. Leni and Mr. Yow.
He said Mr Leni defended his board’s action claiming the workers were illegally giving themselves personal loans of up to $75,000 or more.
Chairman of In-house Workers union of SIPA, Michael Faitea said he had appealed to the new MID Minister, Mr Lusibaea to reinstate the 16 workers removed by the board after the strike.
Mr Faitea said government is duty bound to care for its citizens rather than defend foreigners.
He said, Mr Leni must also be removed in order to restore credibility in SIPA due to numerous allegations of corrupt practices leveled against him.
Both Mr Leni and Mr Yow could not be reached in time to respond to the allegations leveled against them before this paper went into print.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
