AUTHORITIES responsible for the safety of sea travellers are urged to implement regulations on speed limits for fast crafts and boats travelling in heavy congested waters around Western Province.
This call was made by villagers who frequently travel by canoe to and from Noro.
According to the villagers, the sea around Noro Township is usually busy with villagers travelling by canoe and those using high speed outboard motor engines.
However, they said those using these high speed outboard motor engines often had not regard for the safety those travelling by canoe.
“We try our best to navigate the waters carefully, but it is difficult when speed boats came speeding by without any regard for us,” Tari Kere of Boboe Village told Solomon Star.
“Sometimes the waves caused by these fast crafts can be very dangerous for our small canoes.”
A fisherman told Solomon Star that the sea around Noro Township is also a popular fishing spot but the reckless speeding of boats in the area is putting fishermen’s lives at risk especially during bad weather.
In response to these rising concerns, community leaders and local authorities are urging the government to take immediate action.
“Proposals include stricter regulations on speed boat operators, mandatory safety training, and improved communication systems to better monitor and control vessel movements during adverse weather conditions.
“We must take preventive measures to ensure the safety of everyone on the waters,” a respected leader in Noro said.
“Collaboration between the government, boat operators, and the local community is essential to avoid tragic accidents and protect the livelihoods of our people,” he added.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
