IT’S OVER for Colin Yow – SIPA’s controversial Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Board of Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) decided last Friday to fire the man on the grounds of “non-compliance and insubordination.”
His sacking is effective as of the close of business on Sunday 24 April 2016. Mr Yow’s sacking came a day after the Board chairman, Billy Titiulu, was fired by the Minister of Infrastructure Development, Hon Jimmy Lusibaea.
Attorney General James Apaniai said Mr Titiulu’s sacking is invalid as the dismissal letter was not co-signed by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Snyder Rini.
In a statement issued last night, SIPA Board chairman, Billy Titiulu announced the CEO’s sacking saying the “the Chief Executive Officer had demonstrated a level of willingness never seen before in Corporate Bodies here in Solomon Islands, and indeed elsewhere, to defy resolutions by the Board.”
“It has come to a point where his services are no longer required, and the only action left for the Board to do is to terminate his contract forthwith. That, the Board did on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
“As at 4.30pm on April 24, 2016, Mr Collin Yow is no longer the Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Islands Ports Authority,” the statement said
The statement said:
“I have been mandated by the Board of Directors that met at 3pm on Sunday, April 24, 2016, to issue the following statements for the information of the general public so that the public is well informed of important issues concerning the governance of the Authority. This is particularly important in light of recent media publicity affecting the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and generally, Ports Operations.
“As at close of business on Friday, April 22, 2016, the Chief Executive Officer and responsible officers have NOT produced to the Board, all documents requested. The Chief Executive Officer has also failed to take the necessary actions in complying with the resolutions relating to Solomon Airlines Limited and Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited.
“Contrary to complying with the Resolutions outlined below, the Chief Executive Officer has continued to defy the Board, and in the case of trading in rice, continues to actively encourage rice sales. The State Owned Enterprises Act No. 7 of 2007, applies to the Solomon Islands Ports Authority, and prohibits venturing into business activities that do not constitute the core functions of Solomon Islands Ports Authority.
“The Chief Executive Officer has had the benefit and privilege of legal advice rendered to him by the Hon. Attorney-General. The Chief Executive Officer had also had numerous Board Resolutions directing him and his responsible officers to refrain from selling rice and trading in other items.
“Further, soon after a set of Resolutions made in March of 2016, prohibiting the importation and sale of noodles, the Board was made aware by employees of Solomon Islands Ports Authority that a container of Noodles had arrived, containing 3,000 cartons. These were meant for sale. The Chief Executive Officer had continued to encourage the sale of Noodles.
“Despite attempts by the Board to stop the sale through appropriate Board resolutions, the Chief Executive Officer actively issued directions to Management and workers to defy these resolutions. There is nothing else the Board can do to bring the Chief Executive Officer in line, to conform with the Board Resolutions and to adhere to legal advice (tendered) by the Hon. Attorney-General.
“The Chief Executive Officer had demonstrated a level of willingness never seen before in Corporate Bodies here in Solomon Islands, and indeed elsewhere, to defy resolutions by the Board. It has come to a point where his services are no longer required, and the only action left for the Board to do is to terminate his contract forthwith. That, the Board did on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
“As at 4.30pm on April 24, 2016, Mr Collin Yow is no longer the Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Islands Ports Authority. I shall advise the relevant Government Offices, including the Accountable Ministers accordingly on Monday, April 25, 2016.”
Mr Yow has been ordered to return all company items including his chauffeur-driven vehicle, mobile phones. It is understood that a restraining order will be issued tomorrow to prevent Mr Yow from entering the Ports area.
The sacking has political overtone for the Government. The Opposition has been holding a series of meetings over the weekend. It could dominate question time in Parliament later this morning.
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