BY NED GAGAHE

Police in Tulagi recovered a stolen generator belonging to the Tulagi Hospital’s incinerator facility on Thursday, December 29th, in Naeli village next to Tulagi township.

The theft occurred between December 24th and December 26th.

The incinerator facility, funded by the World Bank, was officially handed just over a month ago.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Central Provincial Police Commander Superintendent David Soakai stated that, following swift action by his officers, one suspect was arrested and placed in police custody, while the second suspect has yet to be apprehended.

According to PPC Soakai, on the afternoon of December 26th, 2024, while on a festive operation doing mobile patrol around Tulagi township’s western end, they discovered the main gate of the medical incinerator building was open and the generator was missing.

The police reported the matter to the medical authority, and hours later, the Tulagi medical team confirmed that the incinerator genset generator was missing.

The police then attended the scene, collected fingerprints, took photographs, and obtained a statement from the health officials for investigation.

On Thursday, December 29th, 2024, the security of the incinerator facility contacted Tulagi police with information that led to the discovery of the stolen generator.

With this information, the police managed to identify the suspects involved in the break-in and the location of the generator.

On December 29th, 2024, the first suspect was arrested and taken to the Tulagi police station, while the other suspect had fled to another village.

That same night, Tulagi police recovered the stolen generator in Naeli village next to Tulagi township, now in Police possession.

One of the suspects is 23 years old.

The Central Islands Provincial government received the project on Friday, November 1st, 2024.

Deputy Secretary for Health Care, Dr. Gregory Jilini, led a delegation to Tulagi for the official handover ceremony, which included World Bank Health Specialist Wayne Irava and other stakeholders.

The Tulagi Incinerator Facility, constructed by R.S.F Construction, is one of four incinerator facilities funded by the World Bank.

The other three are located at Good Samaritan Hospital, Noro Area Health Centre, and Kilufii Hospital.

These facilities are part of the project aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to the threat of Covid-19, as well as improving and strengthening national systems for public health preparedness in the Solomon Islands.

The Tulagi Hospital incinerator plays a crucial role in strengthening the country’s health system by providing an improved and efficient waste management solution.

When contacted for comments, the Tulagi Hospital Secretary declined to comment.