15 Mar 2017

Solomon Airlines suspends another domestic route

From Pacific Waves, 6:03 am on 15 March 2017

Landowner disputes have forced Solomon Islands national airline to suspend its domestic service to Santa Cruz in the easternmost province of Temotu.

The suspension of the twice weekly service began yesterday (Monday 13-03-2017) effectively cutting off the Santa Cruz group of islands, which takes weeks to reach by ship.

An airline spokesperson Colin Sigimanu says land disputes, often involving government, are a major issue for the airline because 80 percent of the operational airstrips are owned or controlled by landowners.

At least three other provincial airstrips in the Solomon Islands have been closed indefinitely because of land disputes.

One of these a new multi-million dollar airstrip on Manaoba in North Malaita has not been used since it was commissioned in 2013.

He spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the issue beginning with the latest suspension.

Vanikoro, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands.
Vanikoro is part of the Santa Cruz group

Vanikoro in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Photo: Supplied

Transcript

COLIN SIGIMANU: It is really an issue that is beyond our control, it is to be resolved between the claimants of the land where the airstrip is located and the government. So once they resolve that issue and they advise us we can resume services back into Santa Cruz.

KOROI HAWKINS: This seems to be a chronic issue with Solomons Islands operations, how significant an impact do landowner disputes have on operations?

CS: It is huge, it is huge for our operations. We have all experienced , in the past, issues with regards to tribal groups claiming the ownership of land and disputes with each other, so airstrips have to be closed. So then we leave it up to the appropriate authorities to resolve the issue before we resume services again.

KH: These are airstrips that provide quite an important service in terms of bringing in medical gear.

CS: Yes, exactly. For medical, business and government services.

KH: And what usually are the disputes over? Is it payment of royalties, or how do these land-owner administered airports, where do these issues arise?

CS: It's very hard to say exactly, but there are varying issues amongst land-owning groups and their claim over a portion of land so it's very hard to pinpoint exactly.

KH: At this point in time how many would you are owned or controlled by land-owning groups with interests?

CS: It's probably approximately about 80 percent of the airstrip would be under land owner groups and 20 percent under government control.

KH: And right now how many airstrips are not able to be used because of land disputes apart from Santa Cruz?

CS: We have a long outstanding issue that has been going for about six to ten years, that's non-operational at the moment due to land ownership.

KH: That's South Malaita?

CS: That's South Malaita. And we still have the new one at North Malaita that we can't operate in, that was commissioned in 2013, that's still lying dormant due to a land dispute issues again.

KH: And how much did it cost to upgrade and repair that for use?

CS: Well Manaoba was a brand new airport under government funding.

KH: So we're talking millions of Solomons dollars?

CS: We are talking millions, yes. Millions of Solomons dollars, that's correct.