Some residents of Honiara who wintnessed an incident between Honiara City Council Law Enforcement and preachers are calling on the Honiara City Council to reassess their priorities for public safety.
The preachers, who were claimed to be sharing their message in a public space without a permit, were mobbed by individuals wearing brown uniforms, reportedly HCC Law Enforcement, and asked to leave. The situation escalated into a brief altercation, causing criticism from onlookers who questioned how the matter was handled.
Many residents expressed concerns that the city’s resources were being misdirected. While the preachers were being forcibly removed, locals pointed out that drunk individuals continue to roam the streets and congregate at the central market without facing similar intervention.
One of the eyewitnesses said, “While they are chasing sober Christians sharing the good news, we have drunkards and criminals (beligas )causing trouble in public spaces, and nothing is done about that.”
The incident has caused a wider debate about the city’s priorities when it comes to managing public order, with many urging the council to reconsider how enforcement is applied, particularly in terms of balancing safety and freedom of expression.
