23 Dec 2009

Legality of new Solomons phone company questioned

4:12 pm on 23 December 2009

Questions are being raised by the Foreign Investment Board of Solomon Islands about the legality of Be-Mobile's registration as a foreign company to operate in the country.

Be-Mobile is the newly licensed mobile operator and registered in Papua New Guinea.

However it has come to light that the Foreign Investment Division denied an application by Be-Mobile as its application was to have it registered under an individual's name.

The acting Director of the Division, Lynette Dawheya, says Be-Mobile is currently applying to register the company, but it is already not compiling with the Foreign Investment Act.

She says the correct procedure was carried out by Digicel which registered and went through the correct labour requirements before bidding for the license.

Be-Mobile will now have to follow government regulations to register properly to operate in the country.