I was pleased today to read the following news report by Radio New Zealand, from which I quote.
"A Chinese company has won the bid to build a multi-million-dollar Rescue Fire Service in the Solomon Islands capital.
China Railway Construction Engineering Group will build the facility, which will be located at the Honiara International Airport.
InDepth Solomons reported the World Bank is funding the project under the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project which is being funded by a US$30 million loan and a $20m grant."
End of quote.
Comment,
The fire service in the Solomon Islands is an essential service and I am very pleased to have read today of the help the SI fire service is to receive to build a service headquarters and to build up its service capacity and resources to a level long needed in the Solomon Islands.
The fire service was part of the Solomon islands police establishment in 1997-99 when I had responsibility for its wok and operational duties as the then Commissioner of Police of the SIP.
In my tell all and well received book, 'Policing a Clash of Cultures. "a true story of my stay in the Solomon Islands, I recounted my early inspection of the fire service headquarters office at Rove and commented in my book of my inspection notes at the time in 1997.
Quote,
"In the fire service headquarters, the floors were suspect, and one noted that if others avoided an area, one walked carefully as it was easy to fall through the floor unless you knew where to plant your feet."
End of quote.
After a period of 27 years, it is more than timely that the essential fire service in the SI is to soon receive its own purpose-built operational headquarters and support the fire service has long been needed.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short.
www.solomonislandsinfocus.com
