CSSI executives meet with key stake holders

A meeting was held on Thursday last week between commissioner of CSSI, Gabriel Manelusi and stake holders at the Australian High Commission Annex Conference Room above the BSP Bank in the Heritage Park Hotel Complex, Honiara

This initiative was undertaken by Commissioner Manelusi, in recognition of the priority needs and support required of the key stakeholders, one that involves close engagement, consultation and support if the project scoping is to be completed in a timely manner.

He informed that this is a major project which has a technical focus on review, assessment and where needed, report recommendations on the rehabilitation of the aging Sewage and Water Management System at RCCC.

The current status of the Sewage and Water Management System is a huge challenge for CSSI and the Commissioner appealed to all stakeholders to continue to render support in order to help mitigate and resolve this problem.

Other representatives from other key Stakeholders Ian Gooden Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Water, Lemuel Siosi Managing Director LBS Engineers, Mr. Douglas Hiritarana of MID, Debra Keresaka of environment and Conservation and the CSSI Team during the meeting.

This project is long overdue and has been in a very poor state of repair for several years. In the past years on regular occasions, the current sewage and water system has caused great interruptions to the operations of this maximum-security centre, not to mention the obvious workplace Occupational Health & Safety concerns whenever sewage overflows. In addition to this, the ongoing major costs involved in managing the current situation has been extreme with very challenging impacts on the MPNS&CS and the Government’s current limited budget capability.

Commissioner Manelusi said that a very in-depth procurement process had been undertaken successfully over the recent months, and in accordance with the process, the Ministerial Tender Board awarded the contract to LBS Engineers.

The brief meeting was attended by representatives of CSSI’s important key stakeholders as follows;

1. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Service (MPNS&CS) Ms. Karen Galokale.
2. Counsellor, Australian High Commission Solomon Islands Mr. Andrew Elborn.
3. Manager Justice Program, Australian High Commission Solomon Islands, Mr. Frank Fono.
4. Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Islands Water Authority, Mr. Ian Gooden.
5. Managing Director, LBS Engineers, Mr. Lemuel Siosi.
6. Compliance Officer Solomon Islands Power Authority, Mr. Lawrence Aforosimae.
7. Planning and Building Division, Honiara City Council, Mr. Willie Nenea.
8. Architect & Building Management Services, Ministry of Infrastructure & Development, Mr. Douglas Hiritarana.
9. RSIPF, Deputy Director Police Infrastructure Department, Mr. Wilson Wakiohunu.
10. Chief Environment Officer, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology, Ms. Debra Keresaka.

The Commissioner in closing the successful meeting, thank the Australian Government through the Solomon Islands Office of the Australian High Commission, for the continued committed support to CSSI, in particular the funding of this particular project stage involving technical evaluations and reports for rehabilitation of the systems, and also the allocation on this occasion for the meeting venue with key stakeholders. He also thanked the stakeholders and agencies for attending the meeting and in advance, for the ongoing future commitment and support towards the major project goals.

He further stated there was a need for all to play their part in this vital project and important area of working to improving and maintaining humane conditions in RCCC, something that cannot be achieved successfully without commitment, sincerity, compassion, and ethical understanding

-CSSI Press