The current closure of the Namuga fisheries centre at Star Harbour in east Makira Constituency in the Solomon Island has demanded a lot of answers.
According to reports, people within the Star Harbour area have called on the authorities responsible to reopen the facility.
They are so concerned about the current status of the centre, and questioned why it has been resting idle for quite a long time now.
It was also being reported that, although the electric genset generator and the freezer inside were in good working condition, the facility has not been fully utilised to serve the fisheries needs of the area.
The Solomon Star was informed that, the issue surrounding the closure of the centre was due to the run down state of the facility.
It was understood that, the centre was the centre of focus for fishermen and the people living around the Star Harbour vicinity.
People are finding difficulties meeting school fees and other related expenses but a government asset meant to assist people generates income sits idle right in their community.
This is a quite a big letdown for our people, one concerned villager commented.
Meanwhile, the closure of all fisheries centre around the country has seemed to be the case in most provinces to-date.
The Namuga Fishery Centre was built in the 1980s under the Rural Fisheries Centre Project.
More than 20 Rural Fishery Centres (RFCs) were established throughout the country to stimulate fishing activities in selected areas by providing ice, fish landing and storage facilities coupled with marketing assistance.
Most of the RFCs ceased operation for reasons such as insufficient throughput, insufficient funds to pay operating costs, lack of interest by fishermen, inadequate maintenance and poor management.
2017 Solomon Star News