Solomon Airlines is still unsatisfied with the outcome of talks over the airline impasse despite an agreement reached with the Fijian government. A Solomon Airlines spokesman says the recent communique agreed has achieved nothing in terms of fairness and equality.
The Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) Chief Executive Officer, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto has welcomed the decision by the Solomon Islands government and its Fijian counterpart to end the impasse between the two countries airlines – an outstanding issue since last July.
Bilateral relations between Fiji and the Solomon Islands are expected to be strengthened further by a number of agreements to be signed following Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola’s recent visit to the Solomons.
Solomon Islands and Fiji have decided today to lift the Air Services Agreement suspension to allow Fiji Airways and Solomon Airlines to provide air services immediately.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has expressed appreciation over the progress made by Honiara and Suva in their move to swiftly resolve the air service row between Solomon Islands and Fiji.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Fiji, Honourable Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is in Honiara today, on a two-day official visit where he will be having an audience with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has congratulated the country’s newly elected Prime Minister, Manasseh Damukana Sogavare. In his congratulatory message, Prime Minster Bainimarama commended the success of the electoral process which saw the Mr Sogavare elected as Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is ready to work with development partners including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to address the country’s development aspirations.
Fiji Civil Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum explains the events leading to the suspension of direct flights from Nadi to Honiara. Opposition MP Semesa Karavaki questioned in Parliament why the services remained suspended because it was proving costly to travel to Honiara on an alternate route.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade states, there is no ‘break down’ of talks between respective Governments of Fiji and Solomon Islands over the current airlines impasse as stated by the print media last Friday and today.
Solomon Islanders will wait until a new government is elected to re-negotiate a settlement of the three months aviation impasse with Fiji. A delegation of senior government officials from Honiara was in Suva last week to thrash out pending issues with their Fiji counterparts.
Solomon Islands will be joining other Pacific Island countries in a qualifying basket ball event in Fiji, in December. The Secretary General to the Federation of the Basketball Association confirmed the country’s participation when he visited as part of his regional tour.
Fijian Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama has extended a hand of friendship to all his political opponents, calling on them to put aside their differences and work constructively to improve the lives of every Fijian when the new Parliament convenes on 06th October.
Caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has also joined leaders around the world in congratulating the Republic of Fiji’s elected Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
The member of parliament for North Vella Lavella, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, Milner Tozaka has called on the Care-taker Government to apologize to Fiji as a possible way to resolve strained relations between Solomon Airlines and Fiji Airways.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is optimistic that Solomon Islands gets a good return for its USP investment. USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rajesh Chandra made this statement during the Solomon Islands graduation last Friday.
Solomon Islands has joined an observer team from the Melanesian Spearhead Group to observe today’s Election in Fiji. The Caretaker Government of Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has selected Mrs Jane Tozaka, an Executive member of the Western Provincial Government to join the MSG Observer Team.
A former politician has called on both the governments of Solomon Islands and Fiji to resolve the airlines saga as it has gone too far and only contribute to hardship for travellers between the two countries.
