24 Apr 2006

Another fire at Solomons RIPEL

5:22 pm on 24 April 2006

The Russell Islands Plantation Estate in Solomon Islands says there has been a major fire in Yandina at the weekend.

And it says RAMSI and police have been ineffective.

The company has suffered almost two million US dollars worth of fire damage to buildings and copra plantations in two fires in less than ten days.

RIPEL spokesperson Patrick Wong says damage to company property continues to occur and police have done nothing to bring the culprits to justice.

He says last week's riots following the election of Snyder Rini and businesses in Chinatown being looted and burned showed how dire things are.

"There is no law and order. Unless law and order is restored for all sectors including the commercial sector where then businesses can restart and employ people and give them income and come back, there is no point for the head of RAMSI to stick his head in the sand and pretend like there is law and order."

Patrick Wong.

RIPEL has had law and order issues since a long running dispute began between workers and management, with a trade dispute panel ruling in favour of workers last year.