Demolition of old houses and clearance work next to MHMS Headquarter
Demolition of houses and clearance work next to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) office Head Quarter is to either enable expansion of MHMS Headquarter compound or potentially a Centre for Disease complex or both.
This is still in discussions and the MHMS Senior Executive Management will still deliberate on the options available before it is confirmed.
In the meantime, and to reflect the ongoing support towards the upcoming SPG2023, the site once cleared will be used as a temporary garage and car park space for vehicle fleets arranged for the upcoming South Pacific Games 2023.
All workers living in those demolished houses have been prioritized for rentals with most have already moved into their homes.
These statements were made by Dr George Malefoasi Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) as representing the MHMS Senior Executive Management, during the weekly Prime Minister’s Office Press Conference last week Friday.
On this note the Ministry would also like to respond to the article by Solomon Star published yesterday on the same subject claiming the ministry had denied any knowledge of the demolition and implied that the Ministry was trying to withhold reasons for the demolition.
There is nothing to hide. There was never a media enquiry received by the Ministry in relation to the demolition nor has it issued any official statements pertaining to the demolition until the press conference last week.
To negatively frame the statements of health at the press conference only goes to show the prejudice and biasness in reporting. Journalism reporting should be objective allowing viewers and readers to make their own opinions and judgements from facts presented. Otherwise there is likelihood by the media to mislead the public with unfounded information.
Furthermore, simply interviewing any staff of MHMS and the responses received is not an official response nor statement from the ministry and therefore cannot be interpreted as MHMS official response.
All official MHMS statements go through a process of verification and clearance from technical departments to the Permanent Secretary’s office before issued to the public.
We hope future statements and responses by the Ministry of Health at the weekly PMO press conferences is reported as it is and not manipulated, tweaked or altered for any other reasons.
-MHMS Press