BY BEN BILUA

THE bad side of betel chewing has continued to downgrade the ambition to improve Honiara and now the Honiara City Council (HCC) is in the final stage to impose tougher laws to control betel nut selling in Honiara.

People’s attitude is one of the huge problem that continues to deny the beauty of Honiara.

Red betel nut stains are visible in most part of Honiara including the Central Business District with filth caused by betel nut husks and spits a sickening sight.

In an interview with this paper Mr Junior Tangi said HCC can do more not only in enforcing law but improving the walk paths within the Central Business District to address such bad attitude.

“One good example within Point Cruz in the pavement in front of ITA.

“The pavement was nicely built and from observation there is no betel nut stain because betel chewers respect the pavement,” he said.

“IT will be just useless for those who are arguing that the ban on betel nuts sell in Honiara will have serious effect.

Mr Tangi said ITA has set a very good example and that business houses along Point Cruz area must assist HCC with such development.

He believes that improving the pedestrian pavement will attract betel chewers not to spit everywhere.

Mr Tangi strongly emphasised that betel chewers must also have respect to keep Honiara Town clean.

He said cooperation between people and responsible authority is the only way forward to transform Honiara into a must see destination in the pacific.

“Sometimes I feel offended when I saw tourist walking on the street full of betel nut stain as well as rubbish.

“It is a challenge for the authorities to address this issue but it will be very helpful if the general public support work of responsible authorities in trying to keep our town clean,” Mr Tangi said.

On the same note he said the ideology that banning of betel nuts would financially affect the city dwellers who depend on the business as a means to provide food on their table is a weak argument with no proper foundation.

Mr Tangi said these people have far more better advantages than their urban retailers as there are many ways of earning enough to sustain their needs such as growing cash crops and raising livestock.

He strongly emphasised that this poor excuse must not be taken lightly but focus on how the strategy to achieve a clean and beautiful town for people who work and live.

BY JARED KOLI

WITH no confirmed date yet set for the National General Elections early next year, already indirect-campaigning have begun by some intending candidates.

Reports reaching this paper claimed that already some intending candidates including former Members of Parliament have gathered their campaigning front-men and are issuing out building materials, outboard motors to their supporters with the intention of wining their votes.

This paper was reliably told that intending candidates began to solicit support by giving cash handouts with some targeting young and older men by buying beer and other cheap items.

Some have also even begin identifying voters, and proceed on to collecting voter ID, despite having the knowledge that what they did is illegal.

“It is true that some intending candidates including former members of parliament and also provincial assembly members who vie to contest in the national general elections have handed out not only substantial amount of cash but also building materials, outboard motors (OBM) and collecting of voter ID cards.

“This is not only evident here in Honiara but also in the provinces,” a group of voters who wanted to remain anonymous said.

The Island Sun understands that various intending candidates have already started doing awareness in their constituencies, however, could not yet confirm if campaigning have begun

—Airlines vital equipment grounded in Kiribati

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE Solomon Airlines is again under the spotlight after one of its vital equipment used to allow the aircraft to function whilst on the ground was left back in Tarawa, Kiribati.

The Ground Power Units (GPU) is used to charge the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) an equipment used for starting Aircrafts was left back in Tarawa after the Airline was recently grounded.

According to a source, there should be back-up plans for the grounding as it is not known how soon the problem will be fixed.

The source also claimed that the Airlines did not have a history of plane breakdowns therefore questioning the expertise of the CEO and his management.

“The real cause to the problem was not known, further raising concerns if spare parts taken are genuine ones or if people hired to do the job of fixing the plane are doing the right thing.

“There has not been a history of breakdowns which raises questions about the integrity and expertise of the CEO and the Airlines Management in how the work people are looking after the aeroplanes and maintaining them.”

A question now being raised is the continuous issues going on in the Airlines compared to the past.

Solomon Airlines CEO Mr Brett Gebers said there is no need for the rescue of the GPU back from Tarawa as it is staying right where it is.

The CEO made this clarification after Solomon Airlines GPU is currently reported to be grounded at Tarawa with the need for rescue.

However according to Solomon Airlines CEO, they do not leave that sort of equipment running as it uses fuel.

“It does not need to be rescued back from Tarawa. It is staying right where it is. Nauru Airlines, Fiji Airways, Air Kiribati and Solomon Airlines will all need the equipment in Tarawa in the case of an occasional breakdown. We had a breakdown and we put the equipment there just prior to Christmas. There was no point in bringing it back as we purchased new equipment for Honiara,” said Brett.

“When the APU on the Airbus failed in Tarawa on 21 December, we sent our Honiara based equipment to Tarawa where it will remain in case Solomon Airlines or other airlines experience an APU failure there in the future.”

“Our new equipment was delivered to Honiara on Saturday. It would have been delivered sooner if we could have found a freighter earlier. But Christmas and New Year is a very busy time for all airlines and there has been a shortage of suitable freighter aircraft.”

“All large aircraft have an APU which is used for starting the aircraft. It is the one piece of equipment that is required to start the engines.

“If it fails as it does from time to time, including for Air Niugini in 2016 and Nauru Airlines when their aircraft delivered our equipment off in Tarawa, the aircraft is grounded until external equipment is available to start the engines.

“There are air start units and GPUs all over the world at major airports for this very reason. As Solomon Airlines grows, we will ensure that we have this equipment at all airports served by us. We will either own it or ensure that we can hire it if required.”

The CEO pointed out that all Solomon Airlines aircraft are only fitted with approved parts.

“They are all maintained by our staff in Honiara or in Brisbane by AMSA which is a division of Singapore Airlines Engineering.”

“These are all licensed organisations which are oversighted by numerous authorities. AMSA does maintenance for many carriers. All of our procedures are approved by CAASI, CASA, CAAF etc. We undergo numerous audits every year. Singapore Airlines Engineering is very large and a well respected company.”

“Unfortunately things break from time to time. All airlines experience breakdowns which often appear to come in batches.

If your car breaks down, is this anything to do with your integrity or expertise? I think not,” said the CEO in response to concern over his integrity and expertise of the Airlines Management in how the work people are looking after the aeroplanes and maintaining them.