Government through the ministry of foreign affairs and external trade is seeking to fill three head of mission posts overseas.
The ministry’s permanent secretary Beraki Jino said the government needs to fill the Ambassador to Taiwan in Taipei, as the former holder, Laurie Chan, has resigned to contest the 2014national elections later this year.
He said senior desk officer Gladys Luahite is now looking after Solomon Islands Embassy in Taipei as Charge de-Affaires, while an ambassador is being sought.
Meanwhile, Mr Jino said the SI High Commission in Canberra, Australia, has been without a High Commissioner since his recall to head the ministry earlier this year.
But he said it is being manned by the Deputy High Commissioner, Fiona Indu, as Acting High Commissioner while a substantive holder is being sought.
She is deputised by Jane Barile, a senior trade officer within the ministry.
Meanwhile, MrJino said the Director of External Trade, Barret Salato will leave the country tomorrow to head Solomon Islands Geneva Mission in Switzerland to deal with World Trade Organisation matters.
He said while Mr Salato will be looking after trade issues with the European Union, he will also be responsible for dealing with issues of the World Health Organisation and the International Labor Organisation.
Mr Salato’s appointment follows the recent government decision to re-open the Geneva Mission which was closed earlier this year as a cost cutting measure.
The caretaker government of Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has allocated a million dollars to have the Geneva Mission re-opened.
Mr Jino said the ministry has been running training for senior foreign affairs officers who in the long run could fill the vacant heads of missions overseas.
– GCU
