NESI declares war on Giant African Snail [GAS] in West Rennell
NICKEL Enterprise SI Ltd, NESI for short, has bounced back, announcing an extensive eradication and control program to stop the spread of the invasive Giant African Snail (GAS) in West Rennell, the Company announced this week.
The program will run parallel to on-going prospecting work the Company is undertaking in West Rennell.
In engaging in the fight to eradicate and control GAS, NESI has become the first foreign company to focus on the environment. It will be reviewed after three months.
“The GAS Infestation has intensified on West Rennell but still within the TIngoa/TNT areas or region. Reports from NESI officers on the ground indicated that the infestation is high in the surrounding areas rather than within the Tingoa station. Local gardens are really affected
Meanwhile, a landing craft hired by the Company will leave for West Rennell today with materials and other provisions for landowners as NESI responds to shortages of food, fuel and medicine faced by the landowners and the people there.
Food shortage is partly caused by the invasive Giant African Snail (GAS) species. NESI has declared war on the GAS, in an attempt to eradicate and stop the snails from spreading.
Onboard the barge are fuel supplies for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force on Rennell as well as medicine for the clinic there.
A spokesman for the company said last night the chartered trip by Nickel Enterprise Solomon Islands,” symbolizes a significant shift to a better future for the people of West Rennell. The effects of no shipping vessels to Renbel Province for the last three months have been a serious issue on the tiny island province.
The spokesman said the mini hospital in Tingoa has long run out of medicine and the sick rely on their relatives and families to send them to Honiara for medical treatment.
They then have to rely again on relatives in Honiara for accommodation and daily necessities whilst here and for their ticket back to Rennell.
“Through the help of landowners in Rennell, the Director of Health was made aware of our chartered Landing Craft and contacted us so he could send supplies for the mini hospital in Rennell.
Nickel Enterprise Solomon Islands, having established a close partnership with Chiefs and Landowners in West Rennell has adopted the Rennell and Bellona cultural practice called “The Avaiki Way” where we look after and share with each other, to accommodate other stakeholders in Rennell for the betterment of people living in West Rennell.
Telecommunications, a vital necessity in our daily lives. Again, Landowners in West Rennell and representatives from the West Rennell Council of Chiefs have opened the way for us to work together with these stakeholders in Rennell to ensure that the service of telecommunication remains undisputed.
The spokesman said the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of Tingoa Police Station also visited the loading site yesterday. He wanted to ensure fuel for the police is delivered to the landing craft.
“He wants to ensure the police have the capability to travel all throughout Rennell to maintain Law and Order on the island.
“Other stakeholders include the locally owned shops in Rennell who equally provide a vital service to the people. The shops in Rennell have long run out of food on their shelves and this trip ensures that their stock is filled.
“All these are possible because of the help provided by the West Rennell Council of Chiefs who are coordinating with our people and other stake holders in Rennell for this scheduled trip,” NESI said.
The boat is due to leave for Rennell today – the first time since the last cargo/passenger boat visited Renbel Province three months ago.
By Alfred Sasako
