17 October 2014
From the High Commissioner's Desk
As Solomon Star readers may have seen, last week I visited Malaita for two days. It was my first visit to the country’s most populous province. In fact I’d had to abandon several previous attempts to visit Malaita over the past six months, due to boat breakdowns or rough weather.
So while I was genuinely excited and honoured to visit Malaita for the first time, I also felt a little sad that it had taken me so long to get there. One of the reasons it’s difficult to visit Malaita, of course, is the ongoing closure of Auki airport due to a local dispute.
I don’t pretend to know the rights or wrongs of the dispute, but as a major donor trying to help develop Malaita, it’s disappointing that the airport has been closed for so long. I hope that all Malaitan leaders can pull together to get this problem fixed soon. And there should be no doubt that it is a problem. Malaita will find it hard to attract either investors or tourists if they’re not able to fly there.
Being welcomed at Laulana Community High School
While in Malaita, I was made to feel like a very welcome guest. I was lucky enough to see some of the province’s immense natural beauty, including the stunning Langa-Langa lagoon. But I also witnessed some of Malaita’s development challenges, including in infrastructure, health and education.
Most importantly, I was able to speak to many people about the challenges of making a better life in Maliata– from doctors, politicians and priests to teachers, police officers and nurse aides. The challenges are many and substantial, but we’ll keep working with both the national government and our many partners in Malaita to help improve life for all Malaitans.
I’d like to thank Premier Edwin Suibaea and his government for their hospitality during my visit. And I’d like to acknowledge the many young Australians working in Malaita, some of whom I was privileged to meet during my visit. They do fantastic work in health and education and are wonderful ambassadors for their country.
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Speaking of Australians living in Solomon Islands, I’d like to remind all my compatriots of the importance of subscribing to the Australian Government’s travel advice for Solomon Islands. Although we all know Solomon Islands is a relatively safe country – and that’s reflected in our travel advice – new issues can emerge quickly and it’s important to stay informed.
This year we’ve provided Australians with useful information and advice following the April flash floods and during the recent measles outbreak. With both the election season and cyclone season approaching, our travel advice can help Australians in Solomon Islands keep abreast of the latest developments and stay safe.
Just go to www.smartraveller.gov.au and follow the links to subscribe to the travel advice for Solomon Islands. The process only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve subscribed, you’ll receive an immediate e-mail alert every time the travel advice is updated.
'From the High Commissioner's Desk' is published every fortnight in the Solomon Star Newspaper.