Covidiot Cruisers in the Solomon Islands

[Discovery 15797]

Originally Posted by daletournier

You should stick to "you dont know". Because I do know the answer to the above ie Q Flag, intended destination, email etc., including how eventually THEY did contact authorities.

Well, jolly good for you.

I guess the rest of us will eventually find out.

BTW...I made no judgement of this incident. I was merely suggesting why others could be upset about this...using your own words.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Lots of people shot people and then got into governments over the years including the USA

Seriously. Would you name ONE politician in USA (heck, add Canada too) that walked into a domestic hospital and blew off the knee cap of a patient?

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

To this thread, the only official statements available describe illegal behaviour. That should be the end of the story unless those official statements are proved wrong or retracted by the official sources. Second hand accounts should carry absolutely no weight in the discussion because human nature is such that people will find a way to justify absolutely anything and everything to themselves and others.

Somebody didn't bother to read 18 pages of posts, before being urged to post something, did they?

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Somebody didn't bother to read 18 pages of posts, before being urged to post something, did they?

I have erred in saying that the official statements describe illegal behaviour? Has anything further been said / retracted from official sources?

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Discovery 15797

Well, jolly good for you.

I guess the rest of us will eventually find out.

BTW...I made no judgement of this incident. I was merely suggesting why others could be upset about this...using your own words.

You took my words out of of context I'd prefer you dont do that.

What you quoted was from a thread discussing a group of cruisers that left a perfectly safe country that they were legally in ,to deliberately go to a country where borders were closed to them, they chose arrogantly and deliberately to disregard the rules , there was no reason to do this other than not giving a s......this is totally a different case, it may be convenient for you to compare the two but thet are non comparable, very different.

As I stated several times in this thread Ive known people out there this year that have consciously and deliberately chosen to do the wrong thing, arrived in countries they shouldn't and planned to do so, not checkout from others, not take covid tests, not follow protocols etc, I totally disagree with their actions, I've also said that I've seen a history of Mike and Marie constantly follow all the rules and protocols including getting tested 3 times, paying all fees ,hiring agents etc.

When you add the whistling thing at the end trying to be a smartass I just see a internet coward. I often have a chuckle when I think" I wonder our brave these guys would be in person, would their language be the same"?

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by StuM

Solomon Islands Police Force official press releases:

Official Solomon Islands Police Force web site:
https://www.rsipf.gov.sb/?q=node/1685

Official Solomon Islands Police Force Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/RSIPF/

RSIPF arrests three foreigners for illegal entry in the Country

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have arrested and charged three (3) Foreigners for Prohibition of entry of non-citizen under the SOPE regulation.

Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau says, “It was alleged that the three Foreigners were travelling in two separate yachts together earlier this month and were seen anchored at Baralau Island, Aola.”

Commissioner Mangau says, “According to information received both Yachts departed from Denarau port in Fiji on 18 November 2020 and arrived in Solomon Islands 1 December 2020.The matter was reported to police and Patrol boat Gizo has been sent to escort the two foreign yachts.”

Mr Mangau says, “Upon arrival of the yachts, Immigration, Customs and Police conducted a joint search after a thorough clearance done by Health authorities. The Crews were quarantined prior to their arrest.”

He says, “Concerning their entry, there was no application received by the Oversight Committee from the yachts and there was no permission given.”

Commissioner Mangau says, “I would like to thank officers from Immigration, Customs and Health for their tremendous support to Police in the initial investigation of the Yachts illegal entry. He also wish to thank Officers of National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) for their hard work in ensuring the matter is before courts.”

“I believe the same support will continue in the near future should there be any similar incident of this nature occurs.” Says Commissioner Mangau.

The suspects were remanded at Rove Correctional Services of Solomon Islands (CSSI) as of 23 December 2020 for further ruling on bail application until today 28 December 2020.


Official Solomon Islands Government website;


https://solomons.gov.sb/rsipf-arrest...n-the-country/


Prime Ministers Office official Press release:
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/st...o-yachts/10474
By Prime Ministers Office Media Release
Thursday, 03 December 2020 08:28 AM Two overseas Yachts that entered the country illegally, have been seized and detained by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and Customs Authorities and they are now anchored outside Customs House in Point Cruz.
At 5pm Tuesday 1st December 2020, the RSIPF headquarters received reports from their staff at Aola village in East-Central Guadalcanal and members of the community at Aola about 2 yachts that had anchored at Paralau Island just outside Aola village.
It was reported some individuals approached one of the yachts and asked for fuel so they could patrol the area to keep an eye on the yachts.
The RSIPF dispatched MV Gizo with a team comprising members of the Maritime Police, Customs, Immigration, and Health, to investigate the reported entry of the yachts, and to detain and escort the yachts to Honiara for further investigations.
One of the yachts is called ROCKE HULL, and three crew members were sighted on it – 1 male and 2 females. The other yacht is called OCEANIS 473, and 1 male crew was sighted on it.
The 2 yachts arrived at Point Cruz at around midday yesterday under Police escort. A boarding party will board both yachts, to deliver to the respective captains their breach and detention notices. Each of the crew members will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19.
Once the Covid-19 test results are known, Orders will be made to disembark the crew members, who will then undergo mandatory quarantine at government approved quarantine stations at their own cost.
As part of the precautionary measures, Police and health authorities at Aola village have been advised to inform all the individuals that had approached the yachts while they anchored at Paralau island, to maintain social distancing and to not interact with any other members of the Aola Community until the results of the Covid-19 tests on the crews are known, and they are advised on further measures to be taken.
Investigations have already commenced to establish the reasons for their illegal entry as well as on any Covid-19 related breaches the crew may have committed.
Investigations are also being undertaken at Aola, just to ensure we have full knowledge of everything that transpired between the boats, their crews and the people that went to one of the yachts to ask for fuel because COVID-19 can be transferred through goods touched by infected individuals.
These two yachts have broken several laws in our country by entering without approval during our ‘State of Public Emergency’.
Members of the public and communities are advised not to engage with any foreign vessel that may come to your area or their crew because they could be a huge risk to your communities if the crew are infected by COVID-19 or any other disease.
We will update you on developments on this case as it progresses.

Btw Stu, they haven't even got the name of yacht correct or the number of crew on board correct...but I'm sure everything else must be correct, right?

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Uricanejack

Never said it is question of honesty.

Just pointing out there are two sides to every story. Or in this case interpretations of law.

They might have thought they were right, The Solomon Islands authorities apparently don’t agree.

You still don't get it....
When you have run out of water, you don't ponder on what is the best "legal" recourse....
You go to the nearest source.

I believe they had an emergency and I expected the SI to see that as the controlling factor
Not a bunch of blustering bureaucrats backed up by virtual sailing opinions.

Again, to me and others, its all about reality and compassion

[Discovery 15797]

Originally Posted by daletournier

When you add the whistling thing at the end trying to be a smartass I just see a internet coward. I often have a chuckle when I think" I wonder our brave these guys would be in person, would their language be the same"?

If you read and comprehended my original post, I was not condemning your friends. I was merely suggesting one possible explanation of why some people are raising questions and condemning their choices. It's a shame you failed to comprehend my post.

I make no secret of my identity, and frankly I could care less what you think of me personally.

Perhaps someday our paths will cross. Then, you won't have to wonder any longer about me or my character.

Until then, I wish you a wonderful new year 2021.

[Uricanejack]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

You still don't get it....
When you have run out of water, you don't ponder on what is the best "legal" recourse....
You go to the nearest source.

I believe they had an emergency and I expected the SI to see that as the controlling factor
Not a bunch of blustering bureaucrats backed up by virtual sailing opinions.

Again, to me and others, its all about reality and compassion

No. you are right I don’t get it.
I don’t get why they would choose not to follow the required procedures.

Their friend has not said they were out of water. in distress. Or even used the term emergency.
I might have read it wrong.
Thier friend said short of water, tried to call but got no reply.

What you choose to believe may or may not be reality.

Since I do not know.

I think most of us still have compassion for the crew in this situation.
At the same time.
I have some sympathy with the view taken by the SI.

[Pelagic]

Your right Uricanejack
As Ann wisely advised, let's wait for the details to come out.

I am just reacting to premature condemnation of a fellow sailor with a Filipino partner...too close to home
Happy New Year!

[boatnerd]

I haven't read this entire thread but want to chime in. Last year we sailed from fiji to Vanuatu onto the Solomons in our boat. It wasn't the easiest country to check into or communicate with. In the past year checkin fees increased to an exhorbanat level where most boat now choose to pass by. It was definitely the most challenging of the 14 countries we checked into. The officials didn't respond to emails or we got mail boxes are full reply. I had dozens of emails prior to entry returned so I relied on contacting the authorities via cellphone. I spent close to $100 US alone on cell phone charges in order to communicate snd complete formalities(My wife's visa application cost $700US for a 6 month visa). The official were friendly but blamed bureaucracy on Australia's influences on their government. Most of the government workers were Malitan and are classically at odds with those of other islands but that's entirely another story.
Our experience of the Solomons were raw, unspoiled, and complex compared to other neighboring countries. We choose to go there to see it before it evolved and have little regretts for our decision even though it was extremely challenging on many levels. Arm chair sailors surfing the net haven't a clue on it's reality. It's the land of headhunters, bettlenut, songbirds, and shell money. Corruption is normal but not anymore so than other places. These foolish sailors made a poor choice to stop and got caught. I can just imagine the dozens of canoes that probably came out to meet them. Unfortunately the locals as poor as they are have cell phones. The officials were probably giddy with fish in their net. Luckily the Solomon islands police boats no longer carry armament. It was taken away in the 90s by Australia intermediary forces because they used it on opposing villages. .

[Uricanejack]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Your right Uricanejack
As Ann wisely advised, let's wait for the details to come out.

I am just reacting to premature condemnation of a fellow sailor with a Filipino partner...too close to home
Happy New Year!
Attachment 229732

Happy New Year.

[skipmac]

Clearly I don't know the details and perhaps there were extenuating circumstances but I do wonder how they managed to run out of water.

I would never depend solely on a watermaker for a long trip and would make sure I had adequate reserves in separate storage for drinking water to get me to my destination or at least a viable safe haven.

[Apollo366]

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

[Pelagic]

Quote Skipmac
would never depend solely on a watermaker for a long trip and would make sure I had adequate reserves in separate storage for drinking water to get me to my destination or at least a viable safe haven
unquote

My understanding is that their R/O system is engine driven and they had some unfixable (at sea) main engine problem.

Further north is the doldrum / ITCZ so if unable to motor thru, a prudent skipper would seek a safe haven to effect repairs and water.
The SI was a logical emergency stop and I think being unable to motor at night to Honiara probably influenced them to drop anchor where they could get a message to the capital.