HONIARA (SIBC/PINA) — Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Alex Bartlett has questioned new Australian government warnings against traveling to Solomon Islands.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on June 24 recommended that holidays in Solomon Islands be deferred.
It appeared to be reacting to a clash on Guadalcanal’s rugged Weathercoast in which 11 men are reported to have been killed.
Bartlett said Australia’s action lacks understanding of the security situation in Solomon Islands. It could only be regarded as an action against the rebuilding of the country’s economy through investment and tourism, he said.
Australians have never been targets of the law and order situation in Solomon Islands, and no Australians have suffered physically, he said.
Tourist destinations in other provinces of Solomon Islands are unaffected by the troubles in and around Honiara and are quite safe, he said. The Australian “blow” came as the tourism industry tries to rebuild after more than two years of ethnic conflict on Guadalcanal and continuing law and order problems, he said.
The tourism efforts are largely focused on areas away from of Guadalcanal, such as world famous diving destinations in the Western Province.
Bartlett questioned Australia’s genuineness and support for the restoration of good governance, the economy and peace.
He hoped that the Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Persons’ Group’s visit to Solomon Islands would give a more realistic and balanced perspective.
Travel advisories issued by foreign governments have also been a major irritation in recent years to tourism industries in countries such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Tourism operators have pointed out that problems prompting such advisories are often concentrated in one area and there are no problems in the tourism areas. Yet warnings are issued for the whole country, they said.
Bartlett called on Australia to review its travel advice in the light of the recent positive developments in Solomon Islands such as:
– the ongoing program for the collection of weapons,
– the restoration of law,
– and the preparedness of aid donors to assist the country, despite continuing difficulties.
In Honiara, people who threaten or insult government ministers and public officers have been warned they could be arrested.
