Officers suspended over breach of virus regulation
By ANDREW FANASIA
THREE Solomon Islands Immigration Officers were suspended for insubordination against the gazetted regulations restricting the entry of any person who have been to countries that have confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The suspended officers were Immigration Deputy Director Chris Akosawa and his two other officers Thomas Tego and Selwyn Ramoni.
This was confirmed by reliable sources within the government circle on Thursday.
According to the government source they were suspended by the Core Ministries Coordinating Committee (CMCC) under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Committee consist of Permanent Secretaries and very senior Officials from the key government ministries.
When this paper enquire further one government source said that these officers were reported to have allowed passengers from banned countries to enter Solomon Islands.
It was not reported to this paper how many passengers and from which countries.
It was understood that on the 31st of January the Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration Clezy Rore has signed and gazetted regulations restricting the entry of any person who have been to countries that have confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Under the said Regulation, if any person, who has for 14 days prior to arriving in the Solomon Islands, been in a country where there is a confirmed case of Coronavirus, will not be allowed to enter the country and will be requested to board the return flight or be subject to detention or quarantine.
The Government further advices that restrictions is also imposed to Government Officials, Members of Parliament and the general public to travel to China and further restriction of non-essential travel to other countries with confirmed coronavirus cases.
Attempts to speak to those suspended officer were not successful yesterday.
But officers from the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration confirmed that they are aware of the suspension.
Meanwhile it is still early to assume how long the suspension will take and the period for investigation to take place.
