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Street vendors have taken to the streets offering everything from perfumes, matches, watches and bracelets to second hand clothing.  "Along the main streets of Honiara looks like a back alley in Thailand where these kinds of street vending is very popular." said a Lifhaus regular.  Lifhaus also spotted a large truck parked outside a Point Cruz shop selling clothes.  Apparently, the authorities have turned a blind eye and the vendors are cashing in on the festive mood by offering things that can be quickly sold.

"The authorities have already said that such practises should not be allowed because these vendors must have a Hawkers license to sell any product.  But policing this practise is very difficult and in the rush to buy things, the authorities neither have the capacity nor the will to do anything."  However, Lifhaus is concerned that such practise if allowed to continue without restraint may ruin the outlook of Honiara as the capital of the Solomon Islands.

"People take pride in their cities and this is something that is clearly lacking in Honiara.  People chew, spit beetle nut all over the place.  The shops along the main Point Cruz highway are appalling.  They are of very low quality, many are poorly lit, dusty and sell low grade items." said a senior Lifhaus Administrator.  He urged government to seriously pursue avenues through which any investor who acquires a prime spot along the Point Cruz highway must be obligated by law to build buildings and shops that are of very high standards.  "Tourists and visitors to this country arrive in Honiara and if we are not careful, it makes the first negative impression because it is dirty and our shops are sub standard.  The surge in street vendors is only adding to the ugly, eye sore that the beetle nut vendors have already brought.  Add that to a backdrop of dusty, old, wasted buildings and you get the perfect ingredient for distaste from our visitors."

Lifhaus took an unprecedented walk all the way to Chinatown from the centre of Point Cruz and saw street vendors lining the streets to sell.  "Shops are also bringing out their stock and selling them in front of their shops.  This has got to stop or it must be organized properly."