Dear Editor – Please accord me space to join many others in congratulating the people of East Kwaio on the launching or commissioning of their landing craft in Honiara on Wednesday.
Due to earlier commitment I was unable to join those who came to mark the occasion.
May I also thank Solomon Star for providing the media coverage it did.
In congratulating the people of East Kwaio and their MP Stanley Festus Sofu, I wish to note the following salient points.
First, the seaworthiness of the vessel remains a concern.
The seas around the East Kwaio coastline can be very, very rough particularly in rough weather.
It is my hope that safety would be paramount in licensing the vessel for service.
Secondly, the ownership of the vessel is a critical issue for the people of East Kwaio.
To date Hon Sofu and his cohorts have failed to explain to ALL Kwaio people who actually owns the ship.
It is one of the reasons why some East Kwaio people were dead against launching or commissioning the vessel in East Kwaio.
Their precondition was that unless the MP explained who owns it, the vessel is not allowed to be commissioned in any of the three ports in East Kwaio.
The closest anyone including the people of East Kwaio know about the vessel’s ownership is what was published in the media in recent months.
According to published reports, using data provided to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development by applicants, the LC Gulatatae 1 is owned by three people: Eric Arifanata (Hon Sofu’s brother-in-law), Titus Fiika (Speaker of Malaita Provincial Assembly and brother of Hon Sofu and a Kennedy, originally from West Kwaio.)
One wonders whether there is more to why the people of East Kwaio would want to know the details of the vessel’s ownership.
I believe there is.
A Mrs Susan Sameka came close to what I believe to be the main purpose of why East Kwaio constituents would want to know whether or not the Constituency owns the vessel.
Here are comments attributed to Mrs Sameka when she was asked by a Solomon Star reporter during Wednesday’s ceremony:
“… the new vessel is a blessing at last … since the high cost of transport to reach Honiara and Auki would now be a history.”
In a nutshell, Mrs Sameka is saying the people of East Kwaio expect to be traveling free to and from Honiara without paying sea fares. Ma ship bae waka tu?
In any case, that is food for thoughts for the proponents of enterprises devoid of planning and other considerations.
I do congratulate Hon Sofu and his key advisers.
Only time will tell the success and or otherwise and indeed the longevity of the business
Alfred Sasako
Honiara
