21 March 2022
The people of South Guadalcanal Constituency – Duidui, Vatukulau, and Talise wards – will soon have a ship to address their long cries of a lack of shipping services perhaps since independence.
This was revealed this week by Hon. John Stewart – MPA for Duidui Ward, who was instrumental in supporting Hon. Rollen Seleso (MP for South Guadalcanal) in negotiating the purchasing of the ship SBD$2.6M under the National Transport Fund.
According to Hon. John Stewart, once commissioned, the ship will be known as the ‘MV. Southern Coast’, formerly ‘MV. Southern Cross’ under the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM).
It will be managed under the business arm of the Constituency, the South Guadalcanal Corporate Service Company Ltd (SGCSCL).
GP Media understands that the SCG managed to win the former MV. Southern Cross through a competitive arrangement.
The SGC was the highest bidder against another bidder with SBD$2M despite the original value of the ship being SBD$3.1 million..
The SGC managed to negotiate the settled price of SBD$2 million after their own team did a revaluation of the ship in Taroniara
Hon.John Stewart acknowledged Hon. Rollen Seleso for his determination and vision to purchase the former MV Southern Cross so that it will not only serve South Guadalcanal Constituency, but also East and West Guadalcanal.
“I would like to acknowledge the Honorable MP for South Guadalcanal for his determination, vision, and support to the SGC team for finally getting a ship for South Guadalcanal. I hope that the shipping service provided will not only serve South Guadalcanal Constituency, but also East and West Guadalcanal constituencies as well” he said.
He added “Duidui Ward used to be one of the biggest suppliers of copra and dried cocoa beans in the past, but the lack of any consistent shipping services, contributed drastically to the decline in the productions of those two commodities. Therefore, I hope that once the SGCSCL formalizes the management and policy aspect of it, we aim to provide the much needed services that most South Guadalcanal people have been denied for ages”.
The good news is not only welcomed by South Guadalcanal constituents, but other Guadalcanal people after it was posted on the Guadalcanal Forum Facebook page online.
The Hon. Premier Francis Sade also added his congratulatory messages. He wrote “Congrats to our People of South Guadalcanal. Thanks Hon Seleso and the team”.
The soon to be ‘MV. Southern Coast’ is envisaged to contribute Guadalcanal Province’s shipping services at large.
Source – Solomon Star news.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
