  Solomon Star/ Pacnews
Wed, 25 Apr 2007
HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS ---- The Solomon Islands Chinese Association (SICA) is still awaiting a response from the government on whether or not it will give special incentives to members of the association who have lost their properties during the April riots, Solomon Star reports.
SICA secretary Matthew Quan said the association had written twice to the government on the matter but was yet to receive a respond.“In October last year we met with the Department of Home Affairs about the issue and the department agreed that it was a good idea.
“They told us to put our idea on paper for their consideration but since then there is still no respond from them,” Mr Quan said.He said the association wrote a first letter on 06 November last year and another on 05 February this year but still there had been no response.
Mr Quan’s statement came as Opposition shadow minister of finance Edward Huniehu called on the government to provide those seriously affected during the April riots a wide range of incentives so that the reconstruction process can occur quickly without any hindrances.
Mr Huniehu said the incentives should include duty waiver on all construction materials, tax holiday for those affected, concession interest rates for those who must borrow funds to construct and other incentives negotiated between the government and the Chinese association.
He said the use of delaying tactics to develop this town can no longer be accepted and a very serious blow to the many innocent Solomon Islands Chinese who have invested huge development funds in the country and providing services of all kinds to our country.“It is now one year since the Chinatown area was destroyed by criminal activities, fueled by political ambitions by those who have their hidden agendas in controlling the government.
Leaving this aside whilst the law takes its course the popular commercial center must now be reconstructed,” Mr Huniehu said Meanwhile Mr Quan said if there are other matters more important to the government than the Chinatown Redevelopment issue then at least the government should appoint a taskforce to see to the redevelopment exercise.
“But if our request has just fallen on deaf ears, then that would be unfair,” Mr Quan said.He said if the government continued to delay the redevelopment programme of Chinatown then Chinatown would remain as it is today because their plans are only guided by the government .
Mr Quan has called on the government to consider SICA’s concerns just as they did to other issues in the Solomon Islands. |
BENJAMIN DISRAELI (1804-1881)
Jacinta Moli from Central Malaita representing Solomon Islands in Powerlifting during the Commonwealth Games
