www.lifhaus.com.sb

Lifhaus early this morning found himself at the Pt.  Cruz wharf among rushing passengers bound for Western Province.  Much to the disappointment of the passengers, a lone crew was on hand to inform the passengers that the Express Pelican was not sailing as scheduled.  Instead passengers would now wait for another week before sailing to the Western Province.

Speaking to an intending passenger, Lifhaus was informed that management informed those who had purchased tickets that today's trip was dependent on the weather forecast for the leg between Yandina, past Mary Island and Billy Passage.  Apparently, the passengers were made to believe that the weather is still not suitable for travel in that area.

However, Lifhaus was more dismayed by the lack of ample warning, the inconvenience it would have caused some passengers wishing to travel today and the Express Pelican management's failure to show up and explain the reason for today's cancellation. 

Certainly, the ships management should have made a decision as early as Friday to inform passengers.  There must be a mechanism through which intending passengers can be informed of any cancellation so that they can make alternative arrangements.  It certainly points to negligence and unreliability that should otherwise not be tolerated.  Lifhaus believes that all service providers have a responsibility to their customer to provide service but sometimes it is also our laxity and willingness to accept this gross negligence that allows service providers to continually elude their responsibility without fear of compensation.  Imagine that if the Solomon Airlines is obligated to compensate travellers for inconveniences not of their own making, then ship owners must also bear the same responsibility.

Speaking to Lifhaus on condition of anonymity, a disheartened traveller admitted that this is not the first time the Express Pelican has cancelled their trip and "they do not have the decency to come and explain why they are not travelling and how passengers can be compensated for this cancellation".

A disgruntled would be passenger also remarked, "Oketa livim nomoa man look olsem sleep one lo market for talem umi ship by no go...." which loosely translates to "the person they left to tell us the ship is not travelling today looks like a homeless..." clearly showing an irresponsible shipping company that shows no respect for its passengers and the service it provides.

It is time Solomon Islanders read the finer prints of the Terms & Conditions of their tickets and sue ship owners who think they can dictate travelling plans without fear of compensation or reprove from responsible authorities.  Whatever the reasons were for this this cancellation, justified or otherwise, ship owners have a responsibility to compensate their passengers for any loss incurred through no fault of their own.