The Government has successfully negotiated with two of the five fuel stations in Honiara to re-open their fuel stations after they closed yesterday.
The two fuel stations are Quan Chee in China Town and Leong Serve Station in Tongs opposite King George the Sixth School in east Honiara.The government has also appointed an investigator, under the Consumer Protection Act, to ascertain as to whether or not the actions taken by these fuel retailers yesterday breached the Act.
It is understood that negotiations were hastily arranged between the Prime Minister, Derek Sikua, Commerce Minister Francis Billy Hilly, supervising Minister for Mines and Energy, Steve Abana, their Permanent Secretaries, officials from the Price Control Unit and the Manager of Quan Chee Service Station, George Kwan and Leong Service Station Manager, David Leong.
A media statement from the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Employment says it hopes that the three other fuel stations will open for normal business tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has told the fuel stations and the two fuel distributors in Honiara that it is conducting a review into fuel prices. It says it will also take into account the submissions from the Chambers of Commerce and fuel retailers.
The statement assures fuel operators and users that the government remains committed to finalize a review that the Commerce Ministry has been carrying out on fuel prices at the end of November.
Source: With Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC)