A Road Transport Ordinance 2015 concept paper has been compiled to address the growing concern of short bus routes in the city.
The Chairman of the Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement Division and the HCC Legal Advisor are putting together the concept paper.
This paper which will be discussed at the Law Enforcement Standing Committee later this month is focused on the transport services in the city.
Chairman Charles Aiwosuga said, it is also purposely to address the growing concerns and issues regarding the short bus routes, and also to solve and have policies in place for transport owners providing the services within the City.
“The idea of the concept paper we are working on is for the HCC to have an ordinance for buses, taxis, and pickup trucks to operate within the given law.
“In the concept paper, no public bus transport (or any public transport) is to run a distance less than 10 Kilometers before any turning point. The idea behind this is to address the issue of short bus routes,” he said
Aiwosuga added that those breaching the turning point limit will be charged.
“Also subject to the ordinance no foreigners or expatriate to run any Public Transport as business in the City, however the opportunity shall be given to locals (Solomon Islanders)”.
He said there have been recent concerns from local bus operators with this issue and this can solve the problem
“In terms of fees as it is now in place, the revenue collected from the transport service in the City will be shared with the Guadalcanal Province,” he added
If the Ordinance is passed, the Chairman said HCC will be working with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and the Police Traffic Unit to monitor any public transport service owners or drivers.
The concept paper will also empower the HCC Law Enforcement Officers to stop, control, divert, inspect and detain any vehicle found breaching the ordinance and will be charged according with the penalty given.
The concept paper will go through the Law Enforcement Division Standing Committee to be deliberated, before it is tabled before the full council meeting.
The public are therefore encouraged to contribute their views in regards to the Road Transport Ordinance through the Council’s suggestion box, the hotline 21109, Website or on the Council’s Face book page.
By Kadiba Alu
HCC Communications Officer
