Dear editor,

PLEASE allow me space to give my acknowledgement and support to the Solomon Islands Public Employees Union (SIPU) to pursue an action to ensure the Long Service Benefit for retired public servants is tax excepted.

I understand the Union met with Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela early this year to discuss the issue of avoiding tax from LBS.

Whether the issue is taken onboard by government or not, I believe SIPU has taken a major step to address the concern of retired public servants.

This has shown SIPU’s commitment to serve the interest of public employees.

Singing the same chorus with SIPU, retired public servants deserve their full benefit as a token of appreciation from the government for their hard work in the public service.

They have been paying taxes during their term so what’s the reason for deducting taxes from their last hope of benefit.

I know the government has its own reason for deducting tax from LBS.

Meanwhile, I would like to see the government to consider and take action into the recommendations submitted by SIPU to ensure the benefit is not taxed.

If there is a need to review and amend the country’s taxation law, I would like to see the government consider this for the sake of our retired Public Servants.

This is to ensure our retired Public Servants are treated fairly when it comes to taxing their benefits.

For SIPU you have done a great job and you deserve an acknowledgement for you are serving the interest of retired public servants or those who may be affected by this deduction.

My God be with you SIPU as u strive to serve the interest of public employees.

Fredrick Kusu

USP SI Campus

DEAR EDITOR, as an indigenous and concerned Solomon Islander, I raise my concerns on why Honiara needs to be clean. Ministry of Infrastructure and Rural Development, Honiara City Council and other responsible authorities are urged to consider this.

Cleanliness is an issue in our town. As highlighted in a statement made by the Pacific Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan in Solomon Star on February 26, 2018, which says, “We need clean Honiara for 2023 Pacific Games”. It is obvious that rubbish such as empty plastics and cans can be seen along the streets of Honiara every day. Dust is experienced almost everywhere in the street. Betel nut stains are seen on the walls of some shops and along some streets of Honiara town. These factors have therefore, contributed to the uncleanliness of our town.

Honiara needs a clean environment for our health and to encourage visitors and business people coming into our country. To improve this area, installing more bins along the streets and regular collection of rubbish everywhere in Honiara must be carried out effectively. All shops and restaurants must have adequate rubbish bins and, betel nuts selling along the streets of Honiara must thoroughly banned. Policies on public littering including their heavy penalties must be strongly exercised. Conducting awareness programmes on littering and recycling process for recycle waste materials are another way forward to have clean environment in Honiara town. These opinions are therefore, regarded as way forward to keep Honiara clean. Furthermore, they only work out once they are effectively carried out.

Here I would like to urge all Solomon Islanders to be responsible and care for our beloved city, Honiara. Besides, I want to call upon responsible authorities to put more emphasis on this issue. Let us work together to improve the standard of our town. With that, I believed my suggestions can be heard by the public.

Francis Tahokeni

USP Laucal campus

DEAR EDITOR, while this has raised concern to Honiara City Council that “Enforcement of litter Bylaw” is no longer implemented and power to embark at silence. The authority must seriously look into this problem that continue to degrade the environment, social and economic development in the city.

Honiara City Council (Litter Bill 2009) was enacted and strongly imposed all citizen to respect this bylaw and make sure that disposal of rubbish is manageable by individuals. For example, prolong to eradicate betel nut spiting along the street of Honiara City is alarming and create unhealthy lifestyle, escalating majority of people continue denial with unrealistic behaviour.

Rectifying the situation, the authority must review its policy to enact rules put in place and those who break this bylaw are penalise. Therefore, all citizen must feel responsible since social impact of this problem is sky-rocketing and people need transformation. Practically, people cultural norms, social behaviour and attitude must intact within the authority regulation.

Finally, analysing this problem the authority must accentuate this bylaw in a holistic approach through learning institutions in the country whilst educational dialogue must transmitted to embrace strong networking in the society.   Respectively, awareness programme and social media are emphasise to eradicate this problem in the city.

The authority is strongly encourage to evaluate the root cause of this problem in order to implement this bylaw. Clean environment is consolidating to tourism industry and eminent to economic development in the country.

Alfred M

USP Student