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Finance and Treasury Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned importers of goods in the Solomon Islands against unloading their cargoes at undeclared seaport terminals in the country.
The warning, which comes into effect on August 8, 2024, targets all business establishments, licensed customs agents, non-governmental organizations, donor partners and individuals in and around Honiara.
This means that goods imported from abroad and transported to the Solomon Islands by ship can only be unloaded at any of the three gazetted international seaports, namely the two Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) ports in Honiara and the Leroy Wharf ports at Noro (Western Province) and Ranadi, East Honiara.
This is in accordance with the Minister’s instructions on the 29thday In July 2024, the Director General of Customs will not allow any goods imported from abroad and transported into the Solomon Islands by ship to be unloaded at any acceptance terminal in the Ranadi Industrial Area or elsewhere in the country.
The minister’s directive is to ensure that all items imported from abroad and brought into the country are thoroughly monitored, checked and recorded. This move is also in line with the Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) policy objectives of the Ministry of Finance and National Treasury.
While the Ministry of Finance acknowledged that the Auditor General has discretionary powers under Section 2 of the Customs Act (CAP.121), the GNUT is also aware that government revenue may be lost due to the lack of proper inspection of imported goods unloaded at the loading terminals.
This action was also taken to address the possibility of illegal and undesirable items entering the country through such means. On the export front, GNUT maintains the current practice of loading logs and mineral-related products for export only at permitted terminals when required.
GNUT is aware that there are deficiencies in our system of checking the loading of export logs at domestic terminals. The Government is closely monitoring the use of export log terminals for loading export logs across the country and will take necessary steps, where necessary, to centralise the export of logs from selected terminals as part of its revenue enhancement measures.
The GNUT is also concerned that some companies have built the affected jetties in Ranadi and Henderson waterfront areas without obtaining any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and formal development permission from the competent authorities.
Under section 16 of the Environment Act 1998, wharf and port developments and associated supporting infrastructure or facilities are “prescribed developments”. A wharf or port development is also Class 9 development under the Act and is considered a public work. Therefore, it is a statutory requirement under section 19(1)(b) of the Environment Act to obtain a development consent from the Director of the Environment Agency before such development can commence.
While the GNUT recognises the importance of commercial developments to grow the economy and provide jobs for a growing population, companies wishing to engage in such developments must also comply with the country’s laws. The ministry is also aware that the City of Honiara and the Guadalcanal Provincial Planning Commission have not approved or issued the appropriate business licences for the operation of such facilities.
The Ministry of Finance also wishes to confirm that the Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID) has declared the Leroy Terminal at Ranadi, East Honiara, under section 4 of the Ports Act (CAP.161) as an alternative terminal to provide international seaport services to the Honiara business community and the country as a whole, to complement the services provided by the SIPA ports in Honiara and Noro, Western Province. The declaration was made in Legal Notices Nos. 87 and 88 dated 18day December 2023.
SIPA and Solfish Company Ltd, which owns Leroy Wharf Port, have also been apprised of the minister’s directive to ensure that goods and items imported from abroad that are transported via ships are only unloaded at any of the country’s three international seaports.
The Ministry of Finance will closely monitor the implementation of the Minister’s instructions and take appropriate measures to correct any deliberate deviations.
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