25 Apr 2008

Solomons' government declares company director persona non grata

10:15 am on 25 April 2008

In Solomon Islands the long drawn out dispute over the Russell Islands

Plantation Limited issue has resulted in the Managing Director of RIPEL, John Whiteside, being declared persona non grata by the government.

The Ministry of Immigration has confirmed that Mr Whiteside was hand-delivered a letter canceling his permit to be in Solomon Islands.

Mr Whiteside has been considered an obstacle by the government to resolving

the industrial dispute between the company and the workers which has led to thousands of workers being without pay for years.

Just recently government sent a task force of technical officers from

various departments to investigate the plight of the workers on the plantation.