THE Honiara City Council's (HCC) Environmental Health and Law Enforcement Division are yet to close down a chicken breeding site at a Tasahe house, six months after serving the owner a notice to have the chickens removed after complaints of causing public health nuisance to residents in the area.
The house which is believed to be rented by Malaysian logging company New World Limited is said to be breeding more than a hundred chickens at Tasahe.
The Honiara City Council in August last year served two notices to the house (occupied by New World Limited) and another house also in the area owned by local Michael Andreson who at the time had a pig pen after inspection was done by environmental officers of HCC following complaints of public health nuisance were raised by neighbors.
The notice to each house, signed by HCC assistant inspector Jerome Enato'o stated that HCC being the Enforcement Authority under the provisions of the Environmental Health Act 1980, sections 22, 23 and 24 subsections (e), (f), and (o) and 25, found that they have breached these provisions following inspections by HCC health inspectors.
The 23-day-noticed served was for such agricultural activities be removed as it was not allowed within Honiara City Council boundaries and according to the country planning board.
Residential areas within HCC boundaries are prohibited from engaging in such activities, as it is a public health nuisance to everyone in the community.
Mr Andreson has since taken down his pigpen however those breeding the chicken have yet to comply to the notice served by the HCC.
He told Solomon Star that he was only feeding a pig and did not think that it would be of great public health nuisance in the area, however adding that having received the notice; he then killed the pig and has taken down his pigpen.
"Our family were planning on feeding the pig for our Christmas celebration, however having received the 23-day-notice, we then had to cancel all our plans, we then killed the pig and took down the pigpen," Mr Andreson said.
He then questioned why his neighbors still have their chickens roaming around in their backyard, causing much public health nuisance when he had already killed the one pig he was feeding.
These people still have 100 plus chickens in their area; they cause all kinds of nuisance in this area, especially the noise and smell that come from their area, while I had already killed my pig.
"The two houses we were both served the same notice at the same time, yet they still enjoy whatever it is they do with their chicken while I have already taken down the pig pen," Mr Andreson said.
There have also been claims by residents within the area that the chickens were used for gambling purposes every weekend.
Every Sunday they host chicken or rooster fights and then place bets, this I believe is illegal, and yet these chickens havenÕt been taken down.
What special requirement is needed before responsible authorities can deal with this issue; it is totally unfair," another concerned resident of Tasahe said.
When asked about the issue yesterday, HCC's assistant Health Inspector Jerome Enato'o told Solomon Star that, that matter was with the Law Enforcement Division as they are the ones responsible for dealing with those who do not comply with notices served by the council.
"We have done our job, which is serving them notices and it is up to the Law Enforcement Division who would then deal with those who don't comply.
Mr Enato'o conceded that no follow-ups or revisits were done to the two residences after serving them notices, however adding that they will be looking into the matter.
"I was trying to talk with the Law Enforcement Division today (yesterday) however their bosses were still in a meeting.
We will be looking into the matter with those involved," Mr Enato'o said.
Mr Enato'o also confirmed hearing rumors of chicken fights being held in the area however are yet to establish if these were facts or just plain rumors and speculations.
Solomon Star made several attempts to Tasahe to try and talk with occupants of the house rented by the Malaysians however they were not available for comments.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
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