SOLOMON Islands High Commission in Suva, Fiji, refutes all the reasons claimed by Director of Civil Aviation, as reported in the daily papers in the Solomons and in Fiji this week as reasons for the delay in resolving the current air services impasse between Fiji and Solomon Islands.
“In fact the events which led to the suspension of flights between Nadi and Honiara, beginning on 12 July, 2014, have been on the radar of Civil Aviation authorities in Solomon Islands since February this year,” a statement issued by high commissioner Patteson Oti said.
“The underlying reasons are entirely technical,” the statement added.
“Politics, including the recent elections in Fiji, as claimed by the director, has little if not, zero bearing on reasons for the seemingly protracted process to have the air services impasse amicably resolved.
“The High Commission can vouch for two lost opportunities which officials in Honiara, especially the Director, could have seized to hold preliminary discussions with their Fijian counterparts.
“Those opportunities went begging.
“Shifting the blame on matters totally unrelated to aviation is irresponsible, to say the least,” the statement said.
Earlier, Civil Aviation director George Satu said a government delegation will travel to Fiji to negotiate the long dispute early next month.
The impasse between both countries’ aviation authorities started in July, after Solomon Airlines refused to grant a request from the Fiji Airways for an extra Saturday flight beside its Tuesday schedule.
As a result both authorities have since cancelled all international flights between Honiara and Nadi, causing disruption to travellers between the countries and also Vanuatu.
Mr Satu said the government has seen the need to resolve the impasse in the Melanesian way to allow normal flights between Fiji and Honiara again.
He claimed the government has delayed the negotiation because of the recent elections in Fiji.
“Now that Fiji has a democratic elected government in place, we will go to negotiate the issue.
“I believe from this meeting with the Fiji government, we hope to resolve this impasse,” he said.