Business organisations and private -households within the Honiara boundary can now be able to get appropriate information on how to dump household-wastes at the Ranadi dumpsite.
This came after the Government of Japan handed over a new landfill administration and training Centre to Honiara City Council (HCC) at Ranadi dumpsite yesterday.
The new centre will help the council to organise training and posting staff there to administer the daily operations of the Ranadi dumpsite.
Japanese Government under the grassroots and Human Security Projects Scheme funded the project worth around SBD $635,000 including the security fences around the dumpsite.
Japan Chargés D’affaires in Solomon Islands Tomohiro Odai during the ceremony said the project was supported by Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Projects Scheme.
“I would like to recall that this project was signed in November 2014 between the Embassy of Japan and Honiara City Council. Japan contributed about 635,000 Solomon dollars in total to construct this administration and training center and its security fences.
“I’m pleased that this project has been completed without any delay as we hope. This project took only 6 months to its completion and this successful completion is totally attributed to strong leadership of Joe Kelesi, landfill supervisor of Honiara City Council, and Rex Wane, head contractor from RW construction and the tireless and concerted efforts of every member of the team,” Mr Odai said.
He said the facility should strongly enhance the capacity of landfill staff to undertake the current and future work operations in a safer and more efficient way.
“This project will result in providing citizens with better and clean urban environment and reducing environmental destructions.
“This facility will also be utilized for environmental education for the citizen of Honiara city. I believe that environmental education is a vital step to accelerate and elevate the level of standard of living in Honiara.
“Substantial number of projects, organizations, stakeholders is collaborating to work for Ranadi Landfill Disposal Site such as Embassy of Japan, HCC, JICA, LEAF and J-prism.
“We are honoured to be a part of this productive partnership to create better future for the people of Solomon Islands.
“On behalf of the Government and People of Japan, I hereby officially announce that the project has been handed over to Honiara City Council as of today (yesterday).
“I would like to emphasize that today (yesterday) is the day you have started to assume huge responsibility to take good care of these facilities.
“I hope that these facilities will be well maintained by HCC and landfill staff, so this project will benefit many generations of the people in Solomon Islands and be remembered as a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples of Japan and Solomon Islands for many years to come.”
He highlighted that under Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Projects Scheme, environmental health project is one of the priority areas to address the very basic human needs of the people of Solomon Islands.
“Japan is committed to continue our efforts in this field to see more happy faces in many places of Solomon Islands,’’ Mr Odai said.
Attending the ceremony yesterday were permanent secretary of Permanent Secretary for Climate Change and Disaster Management, Dr Melchior Mataki, Honiara City Mayor Alfrence Fatai, JICA officials, Director of Health, Environment Division in the Ministry of Health Tom Nanau and other official guests.
By DENVER NEWTER
