Gov’t called on to pay retired border officers

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

RETIRED police, immigration and quarantine officers from Shortland Islands who served during the Bougainville crisis are calling on the government to pay them their dues.

They are reiterating their call, which had initially received no response from the government.

They had requested their outstanding allowances and payments be paid them, in addition to recognition and appreciation from the government for their service to the country at the height of the Bougainville crisis.

These officers were said to have been deployed and authorised under the Public Service Commission (PSC) to perform their duties as public officers.

A former police officer Joshua Loko told Island Sun Gizo yesterday the previous government led by Manasseh Sogavare had failed to honour its promise.

“Now, the Rick Hou-led government are showing the same symptoms of negligence and ignorance to the call made by our main taskforce committee in Honiara.”

He said since the government has made payments to former militants, they also want to get paid as well.

“If the previous government has made several payouts as Christmas presents to former militants, why are we being left out.

“We therefore, call on the current government under Rick Hou to please pay the appreciation presents to those actively employed because they have taken their oath to serve this nation and they have done it.

“Paying people who wreck this nation to its knees is a slap on the integrity of this nation Solomon Islands we have been a laughing stock to other nations on this earth for rewarding militants.”

He explained they have tabled this issue before two successive governments already.

Loko said they trust the current government will sort this out with the taskforce in Honiara. The sooner the better, he said.

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