BY MORRIS NAFU
The Minister of Finance and Treasury, Trevor Manemahaga, has clarified his decision to revoke the earlier suspension on the use of sufferance wharves.
Mr Manemahaga said the decision follows a Cabinet directive made on June 3, 2025, which called for the establishment of a special committee to review the status of sufferance wharves, including Leroy Wharf, a statement by the Finance Ministry yesterday said.
Cabinet had agreed that proper consultations with stakeholders and a full analysis must take place before a final decision is made, the statement said.
“Until the committee completes its work and presents its report to Cabinet, the status quo must remain,” Manemahaga said.
“This ensures that national projects and businesses can continue their operations without unnecessary disruption.”
The Minister noted that sufferance wharves play an important role in facilitating break-bulk cargo such as cement, reinforcement rods, steel and other specialised equipment that are vital for infrastructure projects and essential for households, the Ministry of finance said.
Their continued use has also helped drive down prices, creating economic efficiency which benefits ordinary Solomon Islanders through affordable prices of cement and steel, the ministry said.
“All wharf operations remain subject to Customs and Biosecurity processes, including advance cargo manifests, inspections, and payment of duties and taxes. This means revenue is collected while trade and private sector development are supported,” Manemahaga said.
Manemahaga said that the final decision on sufferance wharves will be made once the special committee has completed its review and submitted recommendations to Cabinet.
“My responsibility is to ensure that decisions are taken in the best interest of the nation, based on evidence, consultation, and proper process, not in the interest of individuals. The committee’s report, expected before the end of October, will guide the Cabinet’s final decision,” he said.
Sufferance wharves are seen as hotspots for government’s revenue loss due to non-compliance and inability of Customs to adequately monitor these wharves’ activities.
On August 21, 2025 former finance minister Harry Kuma ordered the suspension of use of all sufferance wharves for unloading of imported goods.
Nine days later Mr Kuma was kicked out of the finance portfolio and reshuffled to the ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).
Manemahaga, MP for Gao-Bugotu, became the new finance minister. And, on September 4 Manemahaga revoked the suspension of usage of the sufferance wharves for unloading imported goods.
Government even apologised in the letter to the owners of these illegal wharves for any inconvenience caused by the suspension issued by former finance minister Kuma.
The reasons for suspending the sufferance wharves as stated in the August-21 letter include:
“Serious concerns by the Ministry’s management and relevant authorities, including the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority regarding the Custom Division’s limited capacity to adequately monitor imports at these facilities (sufferance wharves).
Additionally, some sufferance wharves have been found to be non-compliant with international ship and port facility security (ISPS) standards, posing risks to national trade and revenue collection.”
The letter directed that all imported goods must only be unloaded at the following declared international seaports:
-SIPA International Seaport, Honiara
-Noro International Seaport
-Leeroy Wharf International Seaport, Ranadi (East Honiara)
The letter added that ‘all existing permits authorising the unloading of imported goods at any sufferance wharf in the country’ were hereby cancelled.
The suspension did not apply to loading of round logs and mineral-related products for export at the sufferance wharves.
