AUTHORITIES and Community Leaders in the Western Province are calling on small Outboard Motor (OBM) boat operators to obtain licenses as part of efforts to ensure safety and also contribute to provincial revenue.
With small OBM boats playing a vital role in transportation across the country, especially in the Western Province, there is growing concern over what they perceive as lack of regulations governing OBM boat transport services.
Many operators run their services without proper licensing, raising safety risks and missing opportunities to support local development through revenue contributions.
A senior Western Provincial Government Officer explained the potential benefits of implementing a licensing system.
“Requiring OBM operators to have licenses will not only ensure safer operations but also provide a much-needed boost to the province’s revenue.
“These funds can be reinvested in infrastructure and services that benefit the community,’’ the officer who requested to be only called Jensen told Solomon Star yesterday in an interview.
“Unregulated OBM operations have also been linked to issues such as overcrowding, unsafe practices, and inadequate training for operators.
“Licensing is seen as a way to address these concerns while formalising the sector and ensuring accountability,’’ Jensen added.
Local boat owners in Gizo and other islands in the Western Province have expressed mixed reactions to the proposal.
Some view licensing as an added burden, citing the high costs of operating small boats and the lack of training programmes. Others support the idea, saying it will create a more professional and reliable system.
A boat operator in Gizo shared his perspective, saying, “If licensing is introduced, the government must ensure the process is affordable and that operators receive proper training.
“It’s a good idea, but it must be implemented in a way that helps us, not just penalise us,’’ the concerned boat owner added.
Therefore, he called on authorities to impose sea transport licenses to boat owners before they can provide sea transport.
“The marine responsible authority must give licenses, life jackets and other marine equipment to transport owners,” he said.
For the past years, many lost lives when travelling in small boats between Gizo, Vella Choiseul province and the Shortlands.
Meanwhile, the Western Provincial Government is yet to consider ways to ease the transition, such as subsidising training programmes and offering tiered licensing fees based on boat size and operational scope.
However, it depends on the Solomon Islands Marine Authority (SIMSA) to consider this matter.
Community leaders believe that formalising the small OBM sector will improve safety, encourage responsible practices and contribute to the economic growth of the province.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
