THE South Pacific’s largest domestic seaport passenger terminal building was commissioned in Honiara, Thursday, signifying the ambitious efforts by the country’s leading State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) – Solomon Islands Ports Authority – to ensure the modernity of its services.
The new terminal building, which stands at the center of the Honiara main wharf, costs a little less than SBD100million and it took the Solomon Islanders engaged in the project 20 months to deliver the magnificent product.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, in the keynote address at the historic occasion, said, “Today, we are not simply opening a new infrastructure facility. We are unveiling a symbol of progress, a tangible manifestation of our collective ambition and a milestone that will forever change the way we connect with each other and the world around us.
“This is a moment that every Solomon Islander should cherish as it marks a significant step forward in our nation’s growth and development.”
He said as the first of its kind in the country, the building is not just a marvel of engineering and design but also a reflection of the capabilities and vision of Solomon Ports.
“It stands as a beacon of hope, a symbol of our ability to create our own future and a vivid reminder of the importance of believing in our own potential.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us take a moment to reflect on the profound significance of what we are witnessing today. This terminal is the largest, as we’ve heard, domestic seaport passenger terminal in the South Pacific region, a remarkable achievement for our country,” he added.
PM Manele said the successful completion of the terminal is a step in the right direction towards ensuring this vast infrastructure, which is needed to sustain and encourage economic activity for years to come.
“We are building a foundation for future generations, providing them with the tools and resources to succeed in an increasingly globalised world.
“This terminal, along with the upcoming projects that will improve jetties, seawalls and other critical maritime infrastructure will position Solomon Islands as a regional hub for trade, travel and commerce.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solomon Ports, Eranda Kotelawala dubbed the building as a great achievement and significant milestone for Solomon Ports, the country and people of Solomon Islands as a whole.
“The reason we are here today is to celebrate the commissioning of South Pacific’s largest domestic terminal. And another significance of this building is that it is designed, built and fully funded by Solomon Ports itself.
“So, it is a great achievement. As a team, I must thank the Board of Directors, the Deputy Chairman and previous Chairmen and Board of Directors for actually supporting this significant milestone and making it a reality and also the great team behind me, doing all this great work.
“So today, as we celebrate the success of this momentum, you know, the progress of Solomon Ports is that it’s one of the most thriving ports in this region right now.
“We all understand that for decades we didn’t have a domestic passenger terminal. We actually have two fantastic international airports in the country and we have the international seaports and now, we have the domestic passenger terminal, which is one of the busiest probably in the region,” a jubilant Kotelawala said.
The building was blessed by the Catholic Archbishop Christopher Cardone.
The occasion was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Solomon Ports Board Members, heads of foreign diplomatic missions and their officials, other invited guests and Solomon Ports employees.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
