OFFICERS of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) on September 16 witnessed a reconciliation ceremony between parties involved in the fatal accident in Honiara on Saturday, September 15, during which a 15-year-old girl died after collision with a vehicle.

The reconciliation was held at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.

Supervising Director, Kukum Traffic Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Michael Haomae says, “Both parties and the police were present during the reconciliation and a sum of money was given to the deceased’s side as a sign of them saying sorry for what happened to the young girl.

“Although the reconciliation took place police will still continue with the investigation in to the incident and prosecute the case in court.

“I acknowledge the fact that both parties came together to minimize possible retaliation.”

Chairman of Salio Village Chairman Japhet Hamutagi says, “I on behalf of the Chief and people of Salio Village in Maringe, Isabel Province I am deeply sorry for what had happened to our young girl.

“We are really sorry and thank God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to unite us together to come this far to witness this reconciliation today.”

The adopted father of the deceased accepted what was given by the suspect’s side on behalf of his people and received the money and assured the suspect’s side not to stay in fear.

The suspect was formally arrested for causing death by reckless and dangerous driving under the Traffic Act as well as other traffic related offences.

–POLICE MEDIA

By Gary Hatigeva

VEHICLE owners residing in East, Central and West Kola Ridge, are calling on the Honiara City Council (HCC) and other relevant authorities to take serious action on the carwash activities along the grave yard road.

Central Honiara residence using the road on a day to day basis felt that the authorities continue to turn a deaf ear on the many calls that have previously been made to them to stop or properly regulate these carwash activities as their activities continue to cause damages to the road.

Earlier, Island Sun did a story on these activities, questioning HCC on the status of these activities, which they confirmed to be illegal and operations should have not been there at the first place.

HCC assured the public that they will take actions, but to date since this follow up, no actions have yet been taken and insiders told this paper that all these activities are still operating without any legal approvals from the authorities.

Because of this, residents are again calling on the Authorities to step in now to put an end to these activities as many expressed damages to parts of their vehicles from this particular road section due to the poor condition of the highlighted road.

“Remember, we use this road daily going up and down the Grave Yard road, and it is so frustrating that we have to drive in manners to avoid these drain like sections, which only put the safety of pedestrians at risk,” a vehicle owner pointed out when interviewed.

Other residents expressed that because of these activities, the roads are worsened, with little or no rehabilitations, and because no actions to repair or maintain them, the status of these roads have also become big factors in causing unnecessary hold ups and delays that users experienced almost every day.

“Because of these delays and hold ups, we sometimes decided to leave early, with hopes to avoid the cue, but have always ended up in a cue and this is due to the worsened section.

“At times, we would think it is a hold up especially, coming down from the Kola Ridge section, thinking it is a chain from the main road, but by the time we got close, we’d realise it is a hold up or delay from the part of the road just in between where all the carwash are happening,” one of the residents shared.

It is understood that the grave yard and surrounding areas, which include the road sides where the carwash activities are taking place, belong to the Honiara City Council, and this according to the frustrated vehicle owners, should not stop the Council from stepping in anytime.

While residents see the need to make earns meat for a lot of those who are involved in these carwash activities, they are worried that the numbers are increasing by the day, and the Authorities particularly, HCC is thought to be losing out on revenues as these activities are making profits from HCC owned resources and legal fees.

This then puts the HCC’s credibility and status as an authority, at serious question as many issues of similar nature continue to increase without being properly dealt with.

Some residents are however looking into steps to take legal actions themselves against the responsible authorities for negligence of care and duty to their law abiding citizens who also felt their calls are continuously being ignored.

Many shared that the calls for action should be taken seriously as this situation has not only affected concerned citizens, but so as taxpaying residents of Honiara City.

“Some of us are business license holders within the HCC under its laws and regulations, and to be ignored like this is uncalled for.

“There are some of us who run small scale businesses, but have to pay their taxes, and at times get penalised if we’d fail, but these carwash activities are totally out of control, as they not only operate illegally without paying any dues, their illegal activities are also causing damages to the state’s properties, which should also be an offence.

“One of which is the road infrastructure that continues to decay from these activities without any form of attention from both the HCC and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development,” a prominent business man who is also a resident in the West Kola Ridge area expressed.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

CONCERNED Malaitans have called for a proper and thorough omission and objection programme after the registration period.

They said this current registration confirms that most people from other constituencies have travelled and registered in other constituencies – known as cross borders.

Those voters have been arranged and have been transported by some intending candidates in their constituencies.

“We want to know how it will be dealt during the period of omission and objection.

“If we want true change we should be concentrate and focus on our respective constituencies and not to bring in some other people in other constituencies for your interest.

“We believe if this is so, this where corruption begins.

“And we indigenous Solomon Islanders must understand that if we want to make change we must know who I am, where I am from, Where I live, And what will be my future.

“We once again call on the electron commission office to conduct a better programme during the omission and objection period.”