NORO Port in the Western Province will not be providing clearance for all overseas vessels entering Solomon Islands waters.
This decision was made by the Provincial Health and Emergency Oversight Committee (PHEOC) during its meeting yesterday (Wednesday 19th January) in Gizo.
PHEOC chairman Jeffery Wickham said the National Oversight Committee has requested the use of Noro Port as incoming clearance for all overseas vessels in Solomon Islands.
However, Mr Wickham said his committee refused this request because there are no proper quarantine facilities in Noro.
He said very little has been done to upgrade some of the facilities to guarantee the security and protection of those involved in an event of an outbreak
He said there is no assurance at all if citizens are protected under the current emergency order so having all the ships cleared in Noro is refused.
“This is serious and needs to be taken seriously because Western Province does not have the necessary manpower and facilities to act swiftly,” the chairperson said.
Mr Wickham said these lack of proper facilities and procedures means Noro is “very vulnerable”.
He said his committee had been sending requests to the national committee over the last two years to address these issues but nothing has happened.
Therefore, he said if Honiara could not respond to such queries and requests then the best way forward to guarantee the safety of people in Noro is to say “no”.
“No ships must be given clearance upon entrance and on departure,” Mr Wickham said.
By ULUTAH GINA
GIZO NEWS BUREAU
