‘Sex-workers pose threat to the nation’
FREQUENT illegal visits by local sex-workers to foreign vessels that dock at the Honiara habour pose a big risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 into the city.
This was brought to light by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday in his nation-wide address as he warns sex-workers against visiting foreign vessels as they are putting the country at risk with their illegal activities.
In his speech yesterday he said that he was notified by the COVID-19 Oversight Committee that there are some illegal activities occurring in some of the foreign vessels while they are in our ports
“This activities involve sex workers accessing some of these foreign vessels illegally.
“If any of these sex-workers boarded a vessel that has crews infected with COVID-19 they could contract COVID-19, and they will be the people responsible for spreading COVID-19 in the Honiara in the first instance and throughout the communities,” Sogavare warned.
He further expressed that he has to raise this issue because he must make it clear that even during normal times, no one is allowed to board any foreign vessels anchored in the country’s two ports.
He added that with the risk and threat of COVID-19 it is a serious offence for anyone to board any vessel without approval.
“So today, I asked all individuals including sex-workers who sometimes go to foreign vessels under the cover of darkness to please stop such activities.
“Because you risk contracting COVID-19 and risk bringing COVID-19 into the country,” Sogavare issued the stern warning yesterday.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
