THE Provincial Secretary of the Western Province likes to see that a new law enacted so provinces are fully accommodated when addressing marine safety standards.
The Western Province Provincial Secretary Jeffrey Wickham told Solomon Star Gizo that currently provincial governments are mere agents that are toothless and have no mandate or jurisdiction over certain laws and functions.
“The Maritime Act or whatever it is called is just one of them,” Mr Wickham said.
“The call by many Westerners requesting Western Provincial Government (WPG) to do more is a reality check.
“SIMSA is the only responsible authority that has the power and authority to establish rules governing small boat operations.
“People gone missing at sea is an ongoing saga year in year out and SIMSA must act promptly to review its Act to include rules and regulations governing small boat operations in Provincial Waters,” he added.
He said provinces can adapt ordinances in relation to small boat operations but it must be guided by the principle act.
“It is a fruitless exercise to draft a Ordinance if the principle act has nothing to say regarding rules and regulations for small boat transport,” he added.
Until now provinces get seconded officers from the main ministry without the relevant background knowledge other than just been given posting to provinces.
The top bureaucrat made these statements yesterday in reference to earlier statements made on the topic by Premier Mesepitu about the present law of SIMSA which only limits itself to just disaster related work largely on Search and Rescue mission.
In one earlier comment the Premier of Western Province Premier, Hon. Christian Mesepitu was concern that Solomon Island Marinetime Safety Administration (SIMS) and its relevant functions are centralized work making Province incapacitated to carry out missions in an event of lost at sea.
All 14 persons perished on 1st January, on New Year’s Day a forthright ago when a boat powered by a 75 hp Yamaha engine capsized in flash-storm killing everyone, women, children and an elderly couple.
The rest of the adult men and four women survived by struggling in the deadliest moments making sure the boat and its two-40hp engine attached remain afloat.
Mr Wickham expressed that very little can be undertaken using existing laws in an absence of proper laws and followed with regulations.
He said a province like the West is capable to use exercise good laws and regulations as long as they are legislated for provinces and in turn Province will design their new Ordinance.
SIMSA is always a disaster related body to conduct search and rescue missions.
By ULUTAH GINA
Gizo NEWS BUREAU
