BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
THREE people alleged to have travelled out from the Honiara ‘state of emergency zone’ to Small Ngella were arrested last night by Central Islands Province (CIP) police.
The outboard motor (OBM) they were travelling in is used as transport for fishing eskies according to CIP’s Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent David Soakai.
Superintendent Soakai speaking to ‘Sunday Isles’ this morning said the OBM is from ‘Fishing Village’ at Honiara and those arrested are now at Tulaghi Police custody awaiting further dealings with them.
“Three people were in one boat that was arrested last night as they are all from ‘Fishing Village’. This is a priority case now and we are waiting for the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] to direct to us all formalities and we will work from thereafter.
“We will be dealing with them here at Tulaghi and on the outcome, they will be sent over to Honiara to face justice. Prior to that we have already done Coronavirus [Covid-19] testing on which they are all negative,” said Soakai.
It is understood that illegal movements of OBMs is one of biggest challenges the police of CIP are currently facing.
People are taking risks in travelling despite there is a restriction for people to travel on OBMs and vessels in and out of Honiara, being a ‘state of emergency zone’.
“Do not take risk at your own hands because the penalty of this offence is very high that many families cannot afford during this state of emergency restriction on movements of OBMS and vessels,” remind Soakai.
“People in communities should take the right channel instead, to address their issues such as for travelling. Come forward, provide application in exemption for movement so that we process them to the right channel. Though it will take time but we kindly ask for patience so that we can process everything in a proper and professional way. This is so that we can manage and contain the spread of Coronavirus as well.”
