THE recent Honiara riot has left around 1,000 people jobless.
Wilfred Iro was working as a delivery cargo personnel for QQQ Holdings limited the longtime importer and exporter, wholesale and retail on general merchants.
He is one of those that lost his job when the rioters looted and burned down China Town.
In an exclusive interview with Solomon Star yesterday, Mr. Iro shared his experience during the recent unrest and how the situation will now affect his family.
He said on Wednesday after knowing of the incident that took place around Parliament area, his boss advised him and his colleagues to look after the QQQ building in China Town.
“Thinking of saving my job for the sake of my family, I volunteered to look after the building (QQQ Ltd) here in China Town. Because without this building (now burnt), I will not earn money to provide for my children,” Mr. Iro said pointing to the burned down building.
He said when the rioters looted the Chinese shops in China Town on Thursday 24; the building he worked for was still standing.
“My colleagues and I were also advised by our boss that if the rioters came closer and over powered us, we will have to open the shop to the rioters and tell them to take anything they want without burning the building,” Iro said.
He explained his boss told him that if the building was to be burned down, then it will take years to rebuild it.
“Living with fear, however, just to save our jobs my colleagues and I look after the building from Wednesday to Friday,” Iro said.
However, Friday 25 before midday Mr. Iro and his colleagues were over powered by the rioters with stones and forces.
“We were outnumbered that day and police were nowhere to be seen. The rioters threw stones at us and we do what our boss has advised us to do. We begged for the rioters not to burn the building down, but unfortunately the building was caught up in fire because a building beside it was already on fire,” Mr. Iro said.
Iro said he was heartbroken that day seeing the building went up in flames.
“My heart was breaking seeing the building on fire. This is because deep down in my heart I knew I will be left jobless and will have to find another job to support my family,” Iro said.
Sadly Mr. Iro stated he cannot wait for years for his boss to rebuild the shop.
“Nowadays, it is not easy finding a new job. Not only with thousands of us left jobless will make it even harder,” Iro said.
However, he stated he will not give up looking for a new job or find ways to earn money to support his family.
Meanwhile, a shop assistant who also lost his job stated because of the politicians arrogance, innocent people are now being affected.
By ESTHER NURIA
Newsroom, Honiara
