Acting Customs Comptroller John Lagi has revoked the suspension of sufferance wharves, effective immediately.
The suspension was first imposed on 21 August 2025 under the direction of then Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, restricting the unloading of imported goods at sufferance wharves.
However, it did not apply to the loading of round logs and mineral-related products for export.
Kuma’s decision triggered controversy and has since been linked to his recent reshuffle, in which he was replaced by Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Trevor Manemahaga.
Reports allege that Minister Manemahaga directed Lagi to revoke the suspension soon after assuming his new role.
In a letter received by Solomon Star, Lagi apologised for any inconvenience caused during the suspension period.
When contacted, Minister Manemahaga declined to comment but said he would address the issue in a press conference on Monday.
Meanwhile, sources close to Minister Kuma told In-depth Solomons that the former Finance Minister was “shocked and angry” by both the revocation and his removal from the Finance portfolio.
“Kuma was never given an explanation on why he was removed,” one insider said, adding that the minister expressed his disappointment directly to Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Cabinet colleagues last week.
A sufferance wharf is a loading or unloading site not formally designated as an international port, but where the Customs Comptroller may permit operations under certain conditions.
Since August 2024, the Solomon Islands government has restricted all import activities to the country’s three designated international ports: Honiara, Noro, and Leroy Wharf.
While the use of sufferance wharves helps manage large cargo volumes and reduce infrastructure costs, critics have raised concerns about security, environmental compliance, and revenue leakage.
Some observers have suggested that Kuma’s removal was tied to his decision to halt the use of sufferance wharves.
However, Prime Minister Manele dismissed those claims.
“There’s no pressure from outside the government,” Manele told reporters on Wednesday. “There’s no external pressure.”
Announcing the reshuffle earlier, Manele said Cabinet reshuffles are a normal part of governance, designed to maintain unity, stability, and effective service delivery.
“This latest exercise demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring key sectors of the economy continue to receive strong political leadership and support,” the Prime Minister added.
Acting Customs controller, John Lagi when contacted by Solomon Star said, he acted on the Minister of Finance Manemahaga’s directive following Cabinet’s decision on the sufferance wharves.
