…Only Two Ports Approved as Point of Entries
BY ALEX DADAMU
Central Makira Constituency (CMC) chartered repatriation trip is expected to materialize next week pending exemption of Fairwest Shipping Company vessel, MV Fair Chief.
Speaking to Sunday Isles, CMC Community Development Officer (CDO), Mr. Gravis Tahiri confirms that 310 traveling passengers have penned down their names for the chartered trip however, the number will depend on the results of the swabbing and testing which will take place before the trip. Only negative results will be allowed to board the ship for traveling.
“We have the list of 310 names, it is now ready and COVID-19 testing and swabbing will take place before the departure of the ship and when it arrives at the two approved ports of call, Kirakira, and Pamua.
“We are waiting on the exemption of MV Fair Chief, and if things go as planned, the trip is expected to leave Honiara on Tuesday 1st or Wednesday 2nd March 2022,” Mr. Tahiri said.
He further calls for the cooperation of the citizens of Central Makira Constituency to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
“We need your cooperation to see this arrangement through and please do the right thing and follow instructions imposed by Health Authorities,” the CMC CDO urged.
Member of Parliament for Central Makira Constituency, Hon Nestor Giro in a statement assures traveling passengers and people of CMC that all necessary Health arrangements, COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), protocols, and regulations will be done and executed by the PDOC on the ground upon arrival including COVID-19 swabbing and testing which will also be done by the province’s PDOC at the two drop off ports, Kirakira and Pamua.
Sunday Isles understands that vessels traveling to provinces with much-needed cargos including food and fuel have started leaving Honiara under strict conditions through an arrangement by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), N-DOC Infrastructure Sector Committee, Health, and with coordination to Provincial Disaster Operations Committee (PDOC) by the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC).
A joint statement by the authorities advises that, under the arrangement, shipping operators or operators of vessels who provide the service are required to apply for a permit to the Director of SIMA copied to the Chairman of Infrastructure Sector Committee and Deputy Secretary Technical of MID.
“The application should contain the name of the vessel, to which province the vessel will travel to, what commodities it will carry and which port or ports it will discharge its cargo at. This arrangement is strictly for cargo runs and no passengers will be allowed to board the vessels.
“Upon receipt of the application, the Director SIMA working alongside a team from Ministry of Infrastructure Development, NEOC, and the Ministry of health will do the scheduling, ensure adherence to health requirements including testing of crews for COVID-19, and inspection of seaworthiness of vessels by SIMA.
“Once the vessel and crew are cleared the Director of SIMA will recommend the vessel to the Commissioner of Police who will then grant an exemption for the vessel to exit and re-enter the Honiara Emergency Zone.
“The Director SIMA will use this exemption to give permission for the vessel to sail. Those applying for exemption through the above process are also advised that some provinces will also require a prior departure clearance from them before vessels can enter provinces,” The Statement said.
