The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) has been sitting on a diplomatic note from the US Government since March this year.
According to leaked information, a diplomatic note was believed to have been submitted to MFAET towards the end of March this year with no response from the responsible ministry.
Information received claimed the US Government towards the end of March this year made a request on behalf of the USAID diplomatic officials to MFAET.
No response from the MFAET regarding the diplomatic note to this day means the diplomatic note has been sleeping with the responsible ministry for a solid two months without any response.
The delay in responding to this diplomatic note by the responsible ministry has raised the question of why the diplomatic note has been sitting there for two months without a reply.
A source who is familiar with this said, “What we are seeing basically is that MFAET has been sitting on the diplomatic note since March, and the DCGA COVID committee also has been delaying any COVID application by USAID diplomatic officials as well.”
The source further stated that, “This is shameful to say the least that such treatment should be accorded to a long time diplomatic friend.
“MFEAT is called on to clarify this issue to the public of Solomon Islands why the lengthy delay in responding to the diplomatic note,” the source added.
It is claimed that the lengthy delay in response to the US Government diplomatic note is the only reason for the delay of the USAID diplomatic officials from arriving in the country to support the work of the USAID SCALE program in Malaita Province.
In a response to media enquiries on the matter, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade (MFAET), Colin Beck confirmed that the ministry had received the note.
But there are procedures to follow and the ministry is now working on it.
“There are established requirements and processes that need to be put in place,” Beck said.
Mr. Beck said bilaterally, they have been talking to the US on the matters raised in the note.
He added the US is aware they are working on general bilateral arrangement that will structure the relationship between the two states.
Beck said they are working as quickly as possible.
By WILSON SAENI
In Auki
