The Central Provincial Government (CPG) in conjunction with the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) has proposed that another Ports hub will be built in Tulagi.
This which will act as a tranship port for international cargo liners for cargo distribution to the smaller South Pacific countries such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and other Micronesian countries.
The Mapuli led-Government had taken this initiative with the hope that if this project comes into effect, it would not only improve the revenue base of the Province but it would also create Job opportunities to Gela, Savo and Russell Islanders.
Already there were two fruitful meetings being attended by officials from both Central provincial government and SIPA.
The latest one was held on Friday where four Ports directors (Commerce, Engineering, Harbour Master, Operations Director and the Chief Executive Officer) with a number of the Provincial Executive of Central Provincial Government met to further discuss the matter.
Alongside the idea of establishing an international transhipment Ports hub in Tulagi, is also the ideas initiated by the SIPA executive that the copra board would also be relocated to Central Province either it be in Tulagi or Yandina depending on further arrangement by the Central Provincial Government in consultation with SIPA.
This copra board will be directly making export of copra products overseas and in this way it will not only generate job opportunities for local people of Central Province but it could also benefit coconut plantation owners and copra producers of Central Province and the country as a whole.
The joint meeting has come up with the following arrangement:-
1) A joint committee will be formulated, 5 Directors of SIPA are members and this group which includes Director Operations, Director Commerce, Director Engineering, Director Finance and the Harbour Master while the CPG representatives will still to appoint its representatives when this report goes to press (SIPA and CPG)
2) A term of reference (TOR) will be developed to guide the operation of the proposed development initiative
3) A memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be designed even though not legal that will bind the two parties on the operation of the proposed development.
4) A report will soon be produced by the Director of Engineering on the (feasibility study) site survey already been conducted on the proposed site in Tulagi.
5) In terms of the underwater survey, the Hydrographic surveyors under the Marine Division have also conducted their survey along the coast of Tulagi Harbour to ensure that the harbour is safe for the boats to come in especially tourist and cargo boats.
However, the only hindrance on this proposed development project is the issue of land title which Mapuli’s Executive is determined to bring to the attention of responsible Officers in the Ministry of lands to address the issue as soon as practicably possible.
The Central provincial government is calling on the members of the non-executive members of the current provincial Assembly and the people of Central Province to support the current Mapuli –led Government to fulfil its Government initiatives and aspirations to develop Central Province and Solomon Islands as a whole.
Based on the interest of the vast majority of the population of Central Province, the Mapuli – led Government in its policy implementation program wishes to achieve some of the major development programs by the end of 2018.
Lilian Keru
SIBC Stringer Tulagi Central Province
