BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
MV Fair Glory has been given the greenlight to sail to Western Province on the 28th of this month.
Chairperson of Western Provincial Disaster Operation Committee confirmed this to Island Sun Gizo in an interview yesterday.
Jeffery Wickham said stranded passengers bound for Western Province will board the ship after fulfilling COVID-19 Safety Travel requirements.
He said a special committee has been established to facilitate bookings and other requirement before the 28th.
Wickham adds that WPDOC and Western Provincial Government have identified three ports for the passengers to disembark.
He said ports of call are Seghe, Noro and Gizo.
“We have our reasons prior to making this decision. First, these three places have health facilities to carry out swabbing on incoming passengers before they went for home quarantine/home isolation.
“Second, these places seems to be the centers of different parts of Western Province.
“And third, we don’t want to expose our communities to get the virus,” Wickham said.
He said health officials so as police officers will be present at different ports to manage people’s movement.
Wickham said people who are stranded in Western Province can board ship on its return.
He said there are procedures put in place in order to obtain a pass to board the ship on its return.
“Any passenger who wish to travel to Honiara must contact the ship owner and WPDOC for arrangement,” Wickham explained.
He said arrangement begins now and passengers must take the opportunity to obtain their pass before travelling date.
