Dear Editor – As a private citizen in Honiara I would like the new Ports chairman Billy Tiutulu to immediately and seriously look at the scope of Solomon Islands Ports Authority CEO.
The Terminal Handling Charges (THC) will also now raise 1st March to $4338 per 20ft container and $8676.00 per 40ft.
They have raised prices so high that all sidelifters will have to pay $5000 per year registration.
This will no doubt be passed on to ordinary people.
So containers removed from the wharf will get higher costs onto the $200 per container recent SIPA charges sidelights to remove containers.
This is on top of the 3t vehicle entrance charges to load domestic ships. So every rice or noodle that’s loaded to the province will cost more.
I don’t think business will absorb these costs; surely it will be passed on to the public.
The Port’s CEO has also kicked out all local shippers in ports sheds to make way for SIPA’s rice.
How many containers of rice were brought in? How many have been sold? Who is going to pay for all the rice that doesn’t sell? It’s a failed experiment at what price?
The CEO Collin Yeo has raised charges to trucks and side lifts then says he will bring in his own.
Collin Yeo has kicked out local shipping companies then says he will do shipping.
Charged rice and noodles extra to load on local wharfs while bringing in rice.
It very clear the amount of news spin and airtime Ports CEO is pushing through media channels to change public perception; the piped piper of Ports and its tune is revealing cracks in its notes though.
As a monopoly Ports is using its unfair advantage to raise costs to everyone else.
George Ramolo
Small Business owner
Honiara
