BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Leroy Port at Ranadi, East Honiara, was declared an international wharf in December 2023.
Harry Kuma, Minister for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) expressed this when responding to the Member of Parliament for Small Malaita on the question of whether Leroy Port was an international wharf and if it meets international standards as an international port.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, 22, Rick Houenipwela questioned what compliance monitoring ensureed that the Leroy facility maintains its compliance in relation to international requirements such as the Solomon Islands Port Authority (SIPA).
“Are there any concerns about security and illicit activities? Do you have these same concerns about Leroy Wharf?” Houenipwela asked.
In response, Minister Kuma said that the Leroy Wharf is operated by the Sol Fish Company and is 100% owned, employing 320 Solomon islanders.
He said that the need to turn Leroy Wharf into an International Wharf is just need-based because of the situation of COVID-19 and preparatory work for the South Pacific games in 2023, where the Government see it important to create another international wharf.
“So, in 2022, there was a cabinet paper brought to the cabinet for approval to set up a committee and get Leroy to comply with the minimum international requirement to declare an international wharf,” said Kuma.
He said that the committee is made up of all the relevant Government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management (MECCDM), the Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT), the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) and the Private sector.
“With continuous assessment, they see it fit and comply with the safety, port security standard, that is ISPS code, comply with the Environment Act 1998, the Planning and Development Act 1980, SIMA regulation and Requirements, the Biosecurity Act of 2023, GP planning and development regulations, SIMA conducts annual ISPS audits on the wharf 2024, Customs and Exercise Act declared as customs area to store goods.
“The customs control facility is well prepared. For customs purposes, Leroy port fees are just as the same as SIPA, which has office spaces for customs officers, Biosecurity staff, and police. It accepts all businesses who is willing to use the port facilities.
“These are things that Leroy Wharf met and the committee at that time recommended to the cabinet and declared an International Wharf in December 2023,” said Kuma.
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