The Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) has issued an urgent statement condemning any ongoing potential illegal operations of sufferance wharves within its jurisdiction, specifically from Poha River in the west to Metapono River in the east. Originally intended solely for export under the Customs and Excise Act, these wharves have however morphed into centres for potential unregulated imports and illicit business activities. Their continued operation without permission, valid business licenses, and formal land acquisition under the Lands and Titles Act represents a direct violation of the rule of law and poses a significant threat to our society.
Independent reports, including those from the Solomon Islands Ports Authority in 2023, highlighted the risks of unchecked expansion of these facilities. The GPG fully supports efforts to scrutinize these sufferance wharves, noting that the current situations may deter their usages from their original legal purposes. This evolution is fuelled by vested interests as reported in the media, poor enforcement, and policy neglect, escalating the issue beyond administrative concerns to one involving public safety, indigenous land rights, and environmental protection.
Many businesses operating at these wharves lack valid licenses or approval from the Guadalcanal Provincial Planning and Development Board, rendering their activities-already illegal and unregulated. This absence of oversight facilitates tax evasion, unfair competition, and corruption, effectively turning the wharves into unregulated economic zones outside provincial control. Furthermore, these operations pose serious biosecurity risks; unmonitored vessels have introduced invasive species like African Giant Snails and Rhinoceros Beetles, threatening agriculture, food security, and forest ecosystems. If unchecked, these pests could inflict irreversible ecological and economic damage.
A particular alarming concern is the entry use of illicit drugs, especially methamphetamine or meth (“power”), which may entered through these unregulated sufferance wharves. This criminal activity seriously jeopardizes community safety and national security.
Environmental impacts are also severe due to the lack of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA). The unregulated construction and operation of wharves contribute to coastal degradation, marine pollution, and destruction of marine ecosystems. This neglect is especially troubling given Solomon Islands’ membership in the Coral Triangle Initiative, which emphasizes marine conservation. Without ESIA, there is no accountability or mitigation plan to safeguard Guadalcanal’s environment.
In response to these critical and intertwined challenges, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government demands the immediate scrutiny of all sufferance wharf operations in the province. This suspension should remain until comprehensive legal, environmental, and administrative reviews are completed and until all activities comply with provincial and national regulations.
The GPG commits to enforcing the law to protect the environment and community welfare and calls upon national ministries, enforcement agencies, landowners, civil society, and development partners to protect our communities and make them safer.
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[GPG Press Release]
