PM Sogavare receives report on inquiry into Solomon Islands Port Authority Reforms

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A report on the inquiry into the Solomon Islands Port Authority Reforms has been concluded and handed over to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today.

The Government has established the Commission of Inquiry in June this year to look into the governance and the much publicized controversies surrounding the SIPA Reforms.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he would consider the report and take steps to address the issues highlighted in the report when appropriate.

The Commission started its inquiry on 13th June 2016 and over three and a half months gathered a considerable amount of material documents, and interviewed over 50 selected witnesses who provided valuable information into the inquiry. 

Hearings by the Commission were privately conducted and during the course of the inquiry, confidentiality has been upheld and extra care has been taken on disclosures to the public to avoid misrepresentation and misinterpretation.

The Commission is now in the process of putting together all the material documents collected and material produced by the Commission, including audio and transcripts in a safe and secure place for future referencing when needed.

Chairman of the Commission, Tony Hughes said the report was an outcome of the mandate that the Government has entrusted on the Commission to look into the governance and controversies surrounding the SIPA Reforms.

“This report is really a story about governance. It is a story about weak internal governance by the Ports Authority and external governance by the Government,” Mr Hughes said.

He said the Report has also provided important lessons to learn about other State Own Enterprises.

The Prime Minister thanked the Commission for taking up the responsibility which he described as “a hard task” to carry out.

The Commission comprised of Tony Hughes as Chairman, Dr Patricia Rodie as Deputy Chairlady, Chris Waiwori as Secretary, Florence Joel as Legal Counsel and Commissioners Florence Tagini, Raynold Moveni and Wayne Morris.


ENDS///

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