Police say they’ve arrested two men suspected of burning down a two-storey classroom building in east Malaita recently.
The $1.5 million facility was owned by Onelafa Community High School, which serves the east Fataleka region.
“One of those arrested was a teacher, who was believed to have planned the burning,” Malaita Provincial Police Commander Leslie Kili said.
That teacher was arrested last Thursday.
Police arrested the first suspect earlier and is now placed in police custody in Auki, awaiting his court appearance.
Kili said both suspects are likely to be charged for inciting, undersection 21 of the Penal Code.
He appealed to the communities in and around Onelafa school to assist police with information regarding the incident.
Onelafa Community High School before burning down. Photo Credits: Solomon Star News
Meanwhile, Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga those who carried out the act of burning down the classroom failed to realise the consequences of their actions on the education of our children.
“It is our duty to protect our children by ensuring that those who wish to take such action do not hinder the future of our children by destroying facilities that enable them to attend school,” Matanga said.
Built under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF), the classroom building was was completed and handed over to Onelafa Community High School in 2018.
PCDF is a government funding entity established to fund projects across the provinces.
According to the Ministry of Provincial Government, which administers PCDF, this is the second time a PCDF-funded classroom was raze down in Malaita.
In 2011 a disgruntled employee of the contractor torched an upgraded Auki Primary School double-storey classroom built at the cost of $152,666.
Similarly, in 2019 two PCDF renovated staff houses, the Premier’s and Provincial Secretary’s residences at Te Taungangoto in Tingoa, West Rennell, were burnt down.
The total cost of the two houses was $341,000.
Banar Photo credits: Solomon Star News
