BUILDING new public toilets for the 17th Pacific Games in Honiara will be impossible given the hurdles of land and finance but existing facilities can be upgraded for use.
That’s according to Honiara City Council Clerk Justus Deni during the Iumi Sol2023 talkback show on the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) on Sunday.
He was answering a question on the issue of public toilet for use during the games during the question-and-answer session of the show.
“This is an important one (question).
“It is not possible to build new toilet facilities due to issues of land and finance.
“However, we have to optimise and maximise the existing toilet facilities in Honiara City,” Mr Denni said.
These existing toilet facilities are at the National Museum, the Central Market, close to National Library, Hips School, Lawson Tama and the new Kukum Market.
The City Clerk said around the sport city is where they will have an issue with toilets but HCC and the National Hosting Authority have planned to upgrade old toilets facilities around the area.
“Since last week, the HCC Works Division has worked with NHA doing assessment for toilet facilities for Perch School and the SINU FOPA Village.
“The assessment was carried out so that those facilities will be upgraded to be used during the time of the games.
“Upgrade work is possible, we can do that this month and October,” Mr Denni said.
Chair of NHA Dr Jimmie Rodgers in a previous talkback show said some portable toilets will be placed outside the games’ venues for public use.
The HCC Director of Environmental Health Abednego Maeohu said when inconvenienced in the city, existing toilet facilities is for everyone’s convenience.
He said respect must be accorded to the facilities because they exist for public use.
Mr Maeohu said after the games, HCC will try to build proper ones.
By LACHLAN EDDIE HOE
Solomon Star, Honiara
