Temotu needs a ship: Forau

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE people of Temotu are calling on the national government to provide the province with a ship.

Premier Clay Forau made this call, saying the lack of a ship affects almost all aspects of development in the province.

“Almost all aspects of our development is affected by the lack of shipping services which makes us leaders and People of Temotu province to realise that for the moment our priority is that we must have a ship for Temotu province.

“We are calling on our Prime Minister and the Ministers of the crown to support us in that endeavour. We believe that if we have this piece of infrastructure we will be bale as a province to contribute to own development.”

He said this call is not coming from him but from his people of Temotu province.

“In a preparation to be able to operate a ship we have established Temotu Chamber of commerce. This body will be responsible for managing the ship on behalf of the people of Temotu province,” Forau said.

He said it can be viable to operate a ship in Temotu province.

Forau said at the moment they face difficulties and serious problems in terms of lack of shipping services

“Our students have also been affected severely by the lack of shipping services. Some of the students do not able to make it to school this year because of not transport. Those that are managed to fly by plane are now experiencing school fee problems because the school fee has gone for airfare    

“Businesses affected severely when ships not turn up here during the fortnights, our shops will go empty.

“Project given to us by the national government never get completed in a given time frame due to lack of shipping services.

“People lost their love ones from sicknesses because of distance and lack of sea transport (ship),” he said.

In response Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said while shipping and infrastructure remain a major challenge for many provinces, it is more acute in Temotu given the distance between the islands and distance from Honiara.

Sogavare said the national government will assist Temotu Province address this development challenge.

Discover more from Theislandsun

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading