THE Ministry of Communications and Aviation says two major provincial airports are still to be operational although work on them has been completed.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Moses Virivolomo says they are the Manaoba Airport at the Lau-Mbaelela Constituency in Malaita Province and the Lomlom Airport, at Temotu Pele Constituency in Temotu Province.

He says a Government Aviation Taskforce of which he is Chairman and National Consultant of Aviation and Infrastructure, Aloysius Poiohia in the Prime Minister’s Office is Secretary will need to discuss a number of issues with landowners and other stakeholders before the two airports can become operational in the future.

The issues, he says include verification of landowners’ various claims such as access to the airports and annual rentals, adding agreements between various stakeholders will be the way forward to ascertain the opening of the two airports.

Mr Virivolomo says the taskforce will meet soon to discuss the issues because the two airports are important not only to travellers but also to officials carrying out issues of interests to both national and provincial governments.

Meanwhile, he says the taskforce will pursue negotiations with the landowners of the Parasi Airport to have it re-opened.

Mr Virivolomo says the airport has not been operational for some-time because one party of the landowning tribes disagrees with payments made in the past.

By George Atkin

Research Officer – Media Liaison

Government Communications