CHIEFS and people of North West Guadalcanal have condemned the dumping of waste oil at Tabulivu Point.
Speaking to Solomon Star North West Guadalcanal stringer John Toki, Chief Batista Kaoni said responsible authorities must remove these toxic waste oil containers immediately.
“I want to tell our Member of Parliament Honourable Bodo Dettke and our provincial administration that we are not happy with the storage of waste oil at Tabulivu.
“I call on responsible authority to immediately remove the leaked waste oil from Tabulivu because we are afraid that it will further damage our land and water ecosystem,” Chief Kaoni said.
Chief Kaoni’s call came after the Ministry of Environment found waste oil stored in 150 IBC containers at Tabulivu leaking into the environment.
These containers were part of a consignment of 500 which were alleged to be illegally transported to Solomon Islands from Papua New Guinea onboard MV Neptune Gale.
Ministry of Environment officials told Solomon Star this week that during that trip in 2015 MV Neptune Gale was detained by Customs and in its attempt to avoid Customs officials the vessel off loaded 150 IBC oil containers and hid them at Tabulivu also known as Tanaro logging camp.
Chief Kaoni said villagers have found dead fish and octopus along the coastline of Tabulivu.
“Our fear is that the oil leak will destroy on the fragile environment along Tabulivu and nearby areas,” he said.
Police are currently assisting the Ministry of Environment to contain and clean up the oil spill in the area.
The Ministry of Environment said it will be taking legal action against responsible parties involved in creating this situation.
By TEDDY KAFO
