Dear Editor – Every day I went past Honiara main business hub, I could see that there are business people who continue to sell their products outside their stores.
One thing that keeps me wondering is if these business people are allowed by the Honiara City Council to carry out their business outside their doors.
On many occasions, I came across town council police officers who keep going around Point Cruz town chasing cigarette and betelnut vendors.
Some of these poor street vendors ended up in court and evidently fined or warned not to engage again in such activity in town.
In many instances, these people’s products were confiscated.
At one point I calmly tapped on one of the City council street soldier’s shoulder and asked him why they were chasing all these women.
He eagerly stated that it was his job mandated by the Honiara Town Council office to arrest or stop these illegal business activities.
Then I pointed to another group of people who were selling their products right at the front of Chinese shops.
This time, the product was electronic items and I asked him why he did not stop or arrest them.
He smartly stated that they had a permit to promote their products in the city.
So I asked him what was the difference then.
He looked at me as though trying to scan my mind and exploded, “MAN, U SAVEE TOO, BETEL NUT AND CIGARETTE HEM NO GUD, PHONE, SIM CARDS, AND MEMORY CARD HEM GOOD, ALL KETTA HAE! SAVEE LO LICENCE TOO”.
I don’t know where he got his answer from but I did a check at the Honiara City council office and the officer there stated that Honiara shops can promote their products for a period of time allowed by the executive outside their shops.
One thing that baffled me was that it seems the City Council Executive has favored some group of people to continue do their product promotion while shutting off others from doing the same.
Those allowed every time are these Chinese people who own phone shops in Point Cruz.
It was very obvious that these Chinese used the local boys to sell their phone products under the approval of PROMOTION issued by the Honiara City Council.
One thing for sure is that the local boys are not only promoting these Chinese products but actually sell their products on the walk pathin contravention of the permit approval.
And as such I think it would be fair if the City Council investigates this Chinese shop owners and should they found to be truly breaking their permits, then the City Council soldiers must come and stop them or else arrest them and have them also appear before a magistrate.
There were many local Solomon Islanders who in the past had been arrested for street selling or even displaying their products at Point Cruz area.
Many of them also summoned and faced magistrates who then deliver their punishment either by warning them, fine and some even imprisoned.
Let’s continue to clean Honiara and show that those who break the City law either local or foreign go through the same process.
Next time I walk past Honiara City, I hope that these fake Chinese street sellers are removed from the street.
Enough of these Chinese abusing our laws.
Over to you Honiara City Clerk and your executives!
James Taranoa
Kukum Labour Line