Dear Editor – I read with great dismay at the way the above issue is being blown out of proportion by Tongs Corporation.
At this time where Education is a must for all Solomon islanders and the number of spaces in schools is becoming scarce, Tongs sees it appropriate to hinder the progress of one of our schools.
First of all, Tongs should understand that Perch School is trying its utmost best to provide the best education possible to the Solomon Islands children.
It has been over the years open its doors to all races within the country.
With its limited spaces, it has done well by keep at pace with the education demand and by providing the best education possible to its students who are all Solomon Islanders.
Reading through the article ‘LAND ROW HITS HIGH’, Tongs stated that their concern is for the safety of the students and that the school library project is within the 15m road reserve and within a controversial land.
Interestingly, Tongs had done the opposite when placing a large concrete boulder in front of the school main gate.
This kind of action begs the question of whether Tongs is really concern about the safety of the kids or something else is behind this action.
To date the huge concrete block is still there confirming that Tongs have no regards towards the safety of the school kids.
With the issue of the 15m road reserve, I have seen the library building built further inside the school boundary fence and is more than 15m as claimed by the Spokesman for Tongs.
The 15m reserve issue should be best left to the MID Engineers to proof and not coming from Tongs.
I have spoken to one of the Engineers and he confirmed that the building is well away from that 15m that Tongs is so concerned about.
If Tongs is very concern of the 15m reserve, then it should raise the same concern regarding all the buildings constructed along the Honiara main road.
I am yet to convince that there is any road expansion occurring any time soon on that side of town, not within the next 50 years.
With the issue of the controversial plot, I believe Perch School has the title with them hence the reason to develop it for a worthy course by proposing to build a school library.
Why is Tongs so concern of what’s happening in someone else land?
With regards to the building permit, I hope that the HCC planning board considers the Perch school library building permit application with impartiality.
I appeal to the HCC planning board to consider the positive benefits this library will have on the future of our young students.
Should the permit not given to this project then a justification must be given to the school explaining the reasons.
It will be disheartening to the school if the HCC planning Board uses the same reasons that Tongs is putting out on media as it will be contradicting the HCC handling of such applications in the past.
Building near the road must not be a reason for not approving the applications as it will raise more questions than answers for obvious reasons.
It will be sad if this Perch library project does not go ahead as a result of this row as it is the Solomon Island kids that will be deprived of this Educational facility.
Leny Moi
Vavaya Ridge
