Call for visa-free arrangement
AS the 11th Parliament comes to its natural death this weekend, the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has last one wish – a visa free travel arrangement with its two partners.
Minister Jeremiah Manele a week ago during the final sitting of the parliament in his contribution to the Sine Die motion has again reiterated the call for a more open border arrangement on visas with Australia and New Zealand with Solomon Islands.
Its not the first time such a request was issued.
This humble call for a visa free for Solomon Islanders and the wider Pacific has been raised this year on several engagements in the region.
Manele in Parliament outlined the many countries that Solomon Islands signed reciprocal visa waiver arrangements with in the past four years and hoped “our nearest neighbours” follow suit.
“I sincerely hope our immediate neighbours, Australia and New Zealand can have a more open border arrangement with Solomon Islands.
“A reciprocal visa arrangement with Australia and New Zealand will give the Pacific a true meaning of family,” said the outgoing minister of foreign affairs.
He announced that during his final debate, Solomon Islands had signed reciprocal visa waiver arrangement with India, Morocco, China, Indonesia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates in addition to the EU and Japan, which are in place for a number of years.
Manele also made reference to Henley and Partners Passport Index that ranked Solomon Islands passport 38th in the world.
Singapore is ranked number 1, where passport holders can travel to 193 countries, the entire members of the UN.
However, for Solomon Islands we can travel to 134 countries in the world visa free.
Solomon Islands is the top Pacific Islands country that its passport holders can travel to 134 countries without visa, the next is Samoa to 132 countries.
In June 2022, Minister Manele also issued similar call when he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Hon. Nanaia Mahutu and the Australian Minister for International Development and Pacific, Hon. Pat Conroy at the margins of the CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda.
The call for reciprocal visa waiver is not new. Solomon Islands through previous governments made the call but there was no positive response or consideration.
Currently, Australian and New Zealand passport holders enjoy visa on arrival for tourist and business purposes when travelling to Solomon Islands.
In contrast, Solomon Islanders must apply for a visa with big fees. The visa application process is lengthy with no guarantee a visa can be granted.
As a Pacific family, “we care for each other and we look after each other in times of need so it would be most grateful if our two neighbors consider granting reciprocal visa waiver for us [Solomon Islanders],” Manele said at that time.
Both Ministers took note of the call and assured Foreign Minister Manele at that time they will further look into the request.
In March this year Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also joined the chorus of voices calling on New Zealand to grant visa waivers to visitors from the Pacific Islands, saying access is a “necessary” part of the Government’s approach to the Pacific.
Sogavare made the request to MPs from Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and trade committee, who visited the country to assess the effect of its controversial security deal with China.
Pacific nations are currently excluded from a list of 60 countries and territories whose residents or citizens can visit New Zealand without a formal visitor visa, to the frustration of some.
Two months ago in October Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rebuffed a bid by Pacific leaders for visa-free travel within the region, in a move which may likely to frustrate some of Australia’s closest neighbours.
Many Solomon Islanders are currently working, studying and living in Australia.
With the labour mobility scheme still active, more locals are expected to travel to Australia next year.
The country will go into election next year.
As of 1st January 2024 the government will be in a caretaker mode.
