THE Honiara City Council Law Enforcement Unit (LEU) was established under an Act of Parliament known as the Honiara City (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2023.
This amendment, which includes establishing the LEU, was passed in July 2023. The primary reason for establishing this unit was “to enhance the enforcement of city ordinances and promote public safety, hygiene, peace, and stability within Honiara, according to the Solomon Islands Government Portal.
But for young Hopkins Gale (pictured), that is where the good intention of the LEU stops.
“Members of the Unit are turning into organized thuggery,” he told Solomon Star following an incident on the afternoon of Thursday 26 July this year.
He is nursing a blackened right eye as well as a wobbly front teeth.
“They are using the Unit for fundraising, targeting Chinese shops, particularly those who do not speak Pijin or English. They simply terrorise and intimidate innocent people like they did to us last Thursday evening. They simply want to be paid,” he said.
Mr. Gale who hailed from Dala North, Malaita Province, said he and other shop workers were doing their routine clean up before their Point Cruz shop closed for the day, when five members of the Unit walked in.
“Some were in uniform, others were in plain clothes. They began accusing the shop owner, of littering. They were clearly doing their usual fund-raising, when the workers came out to explain, the leader of the group became very agitated. One came forward and pulled at my bag, breaking the strap. I can identify the man,” Gale said.
“I got so angry I swore at them,” he said.
“They then demanded that my boss and i accompanied them to their office at the Honiara City Council headquarters “to sort out the problem”.
“My boss knew what awaited him so he declined. By then the group had called in one of its vehicles. Little did I know what awaited me at their office. All four of them were there, including one other officer who never came with them to the shop, Gale said.
“I was surrounded by all four of them – one on either side – while the others stood around, all accusing me of trying to act smart back at the shop. One hit me on the right eye, leaving me with a blackened eye. One other kicked me with his boot.
“They then demanded that I pay them a fine of $40, 000 for swearing at them back at the shop. For two people, that means you pay $80, 000. Failing to do so we will send you to prison for seven years,” they threatened me.
“They also snatched $400 from me,” he added.
The incident was reported to police at the Central Police Station, who advised Mr. Gale to get a medical report on his injuries. The whole episode was recorded on the shop’s CCTV.
The owner of the Point Cruz shop is Weng Neili – the President of the Solomon Islands-Fujian Business Council. Mr. Weng and his members would raise the matter with the Lord Mayor today (Monday).
“This whole thing is getting out of hand. Something must be done to stop this fund-raising using the law for personal gain before someone gets hurt,” he said.
He told Solomon Star last Thursday’s incident was not the first. It was the third. We expect law enforcement agencies to protect our business instead of terrorising and intimidating my workers,” he said.
“The first time they did, we took the Council to court and won. Curiously, the guy who lost the court case against us returned with the group last Thursday without wearing uniform. He never spoke a word,” Mr. Weng said.
The Honiara City Act 1999 established the Honiara City Council. The 2023 amendment specifically empowered the Council to create a law enforcement unit for the “effective enforcement of the Act and its related ordinances”.
The HCC-LEOs were created “to build public confidence and encourage greater public responsibility and respect for the city,’ according to officials.
By Alfred Sasako
