DEAR EDITOR, I read with sadness at the plight of our local pilots. I have been following this issue, in which pilots are fighting against what they have described in the media as injustices and mistreatments, etc.

On the outset, I must say that I believe this is an old issue which the current board and admin is bearing as a burden. I believe the real culprits are the previous Solomon Airlines executive and board members. However, while saying this, I am also aware that the same elements are still in the airlines nexus. Not much have changed save few faces.

I am also appreciative of the fact that Island Sun is covering this saga, keeping us the public up to date with what is going on behind the scenes regarding our local pilots. If it had not been for these news reports, we the general public will assume that everything is rolling smoothly in there.

However, as obviously discerned for the reports, this is not the case. The poor sons and daughters of Solomon Islands are struggling a real struggle. I tend to concur with newspaper reports and social media posts pertaining to this issue.

Well, first of all, why is it that after five years there is still not a single Solomon Islander in the international service? One would think that by now someone or few local pilots would have already made their way up into the international service. But sadly no. I now know why.

It is from the various stumbling blocks inside the airlines which are to me deliberately preventing local pilots from progressing further in the airlines. That is despicable. The one thing in a trainee pilot’s endeavour is to end up flying one of the big birds, whether Boeing or Airbus. Not to merely end his or career in the Dash 8!

From what I am getting, with the Solomon Airlines our poor pilots are unfortunately on a career path that will end only with the Dash 8. Isn’t Solomon Airlines a state owned enterprise? Furthermore, aren’t state owned enterprises meant to promote local interests first?

I understand that an SOE prioritises its service, and in due course promotes its indigenous human resources. Because it says that unless a suitable candidate is found within the company, recruitment can be sourced outside.

But, it looks like Solomon Airlines has overlooked this and starts with sourcing recruitments from the outside without even the slightest regards for its existing manpower who are qualified for the job.

No wonder there are more than a dozen pilot trainees who have graduated from the Nadi institute still roaming the streets of Honiara. My nephew has resorted to teaching because h applications to the Solomon Airlines have all been turned down. This is his fifth year of doing something other than what Solomon Islands government had sponsored him to be schooled for.

I support you local pilots, sons and daughters of Solomon Islands. Stand your ground and make sure that you get what you are fighting for. Where are you board members? Where are you minister of finance? Are you all waiting for the egg to break before being stirred to do something?

Act now.

God Bless Solomon Islands

John Poro

Honiara

DEAR EDITOR, Mr Jiope Ralulu Iputu, the Principal of the school for people with special needs at lower rifle range in Honiara, has been speaking about the school getting an overseas volunteer to help the school in developing a specific curriculum to suit the needs of the children studying at the school.

The Principal expressed the view that the curriculum to be developed could be used in all schools for children with special needs in the Solomon Islands.

I express my thanks to the SI Red Cross for the work in support of the educational needs of people with special needs and for the humanitarian services the organisation does throughout the Solomon Islands.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, I wish to respond to the article by Mr ALFRED PAGEPITU your reporter in Gizo on the water crisis faced by the Gizo community.

To provide a fairer reporting for public consumption, I would like to respond as follows:

The NDMOs trip to Gizo was on the request of the Chair of the Provincial Disaster Committee.

The purpose of the trip was to support the province put in a “short term plan” on how to respond to the short term water needs of the Gizo community.

The meeting which took place at the Provincial office came up with the option mentioned in your paper.

The plan was for NDMO to donate tank to the Gizo Township to be installed at certain strategic point with the Red Cross water module to help clean the water before it is transported to the storage tanks.

This was a repeat of the same exercise by NDMO and SIRC few years back when Gizo experience similar water crisis.

What was required for this to happen was for the province to identify the best water source with the Red Cross water module to be used to clean it.

The water source previously used for this exercise was drying up so another source needs to be identified.

However, this plan did not eventuate because, there was another project which NDMO is also a counterpart already installing water Tanks in Gizo.

The SWISAP project UNDP funded and implemented through the Ministry of Mines and Rural Electrification – Water Resource Dept had already installed 10,000 litre tanks at the Anglican Church, SSEC Church and the AOG church.

This project will further install water tanks at the following places by Feb/March 2018

1. The COTLW
2. COC
3. United Church
4. SDA Church
5. Gizo Community High School
6. Gizo Primary School
7. Emmanuel

With the SWISAP already installing water tanks at various strategic locations in Gizo, the NDMO was not required to further procure tanks.

Further to this, there was no need to put in a request for the use of the SIRC water module as the rain was already falling in Gizo on the day of the meeting and the following days.

I want to make it clear to the people of Gizo that the NDMO is NOT in the business of funding long term multi-million dollar projects like the Gizo water project, our business is to support communities in their short term, immediate need issues.

Our role is mostly humanitarian and it will remain that way.

The discussion on the Gizo water issue which has been going on for the last 20 plus years should be levelled at the Provincial Govt and other responsible authorities.

We will not be drawn into the longer term discussion on such issues because we do not have the expertise, resources or the mandate to do it.

Thank you

Loti Yates

Director, National Disaster Management Office