By EDDIE OSIFELO
PARLIAMENT has extended the State of Public Emergency yesterday to another four months.
Both the Government and the Opposition have supported the motion moved by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on the need to protect the country from the outbreak of covid-19 in the community and float the national economy.
The Governor General has declared the State of Public Emergency on 24 November 2021, pursuant to Section 16 subsection 3 of the Constitution.
This comes as the covid a new Omicron COVID-19 variant was discovered in Sydney, Australia.
Sogavare said this SOPE is to protect the country and the people and not to trample on your fundamental rights.
Furthermore, he said Solomon Islands is lucky not to have community transmission following low vaccination coverage.
Currently, Solomon Islands has reached
“I encourage people to come forward to get vaccination.
“It seems most are not taking heed of the call,” he said.
Sogavare said it disappointing to note some well-educated elites have refused to get vaccination and advocating against vaccination.
He said currently the government is stepping its ‘No Jab, No Job’ vaccination programme.
“Currently public servants with no jab are not allowed to enter their work station.
“These public servants can continue to work but at home but their salaries were cut by 50 percent,” he said.
Sogavare said by 31st January 2022, public servants with no jabs will be treated as self-terminated and their employment with the government will be ceased on the day.
He said the security and wellbeing of our people take precedent.
