Solomon Islands delegation at the Fiji Roads Authority
Fourteen representatives from Solomon Islands traffic and transport management agencies have travelled to Fiji to learn first-hand how to create safer vehicle management systems, effective enforcement arrangements and well-maintained roads.
The Australian-supported delegation brought together representatives from the Ministries of Infrastructure Development, Police and Finance, as well as Honiara City Council, for a week-long study tour of Fijian agencies responsible for vehicle licensing and inspection, traffic enforcement, road safety and road infrastructure.
Leading the delegation, Minister for Infrastructure Development, Hon Rick Fuo’o, said the study tour demonstrated how safer vehicles, effective enforcement and well-maintained roads could be addressed as a single, interconnected system.
The Solomon Islands delegation got a first-hand view of Road maintenance overseen by the Fiji Roads Authority.
“Fiji has a well-developed and highly integrated roads and traffic management system, and their experience can help guide us as we consider how our laws, institutions and maintenance arrangements can keep our drivers safe and traffic moving efficiently.”
The study tour is part of Australia’s extensive support for the Solomon Islands Government to upgrade roads and improve the safety and maintenance of the Solomon Islands road network.
Australian High Commissioner, Jeff Roach, said the visit brought together senior Pacific transport leaders to share knowledge and experience on maintaining safe roads in the Pacific environment.
“There is a lot of knowledge and a lot of know-how within our region, and these tours bring together and adapt the best ideas to keep Solomon Islands’ roads safe and well maintained for road users,” the High Commissioner said.
The delegation met with officials from the Fiji Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, Land Transport Authority, Fiji Roads Authority, Fiji Police and Suva City Council, and received regional perspectives from Australia’s Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility.
Briefings and site visits covered integrated licensing and registration services, vehicle inspections, enforcement, road asset management, outsourced maintenance delivery and long-term performance-based contracting.
Minister Fuo’o said the ability to adapt lessons from Fiji to Solomon Islands was extremely high.
“The key takeaway for Solomon Islands is that effective reform depends on laws, institutions, technology, enforcement and sustainable maintenance systems all working together, and not in isolation.
“For example, working together and being more integrated could help Solomon Islands move from reactive repair projects towards more planned, accountable and sustainable management of the road network,” Minister Fuo’o said.
Follow-up work will now focus on ensuring reforms to the Road Transport Act create a modern legal foundation for integrated services, digital operations and effective enforcement, while coordinating with future arrangements for road asset management.
Participants also identified opportunities to assess the local manufacture of vehicle registration plates, which are currently produced overseas, and to explore options for conducting vehicle inspections before vehicles are imported into Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands and Fiji agencies will continue to exchange technical experience as Solomon Islands develops and implements these reforms.
