A provincial airfield in Solomon Islands closed for seven years because of land disputes could soon be re-opened.
Photo: 123RF
The Solomon Star newspaper reports a memorandum of agreement between disputing landowners and the ministries of aviation and lands could pave the way for the Parasi Airfield in South Malaita to reopen.
The aviation permanent secretary Moses Virivolomo welcomed the new agreement saying the closure of the airfield has been a serious hardship for people in East and West Are 'Are, and Small Malaita.
Mr Virivolomo said land disputes were a huge problem for aviation in Solomon Islands with two newly built airfields at Lomlom in Temotu Province and at Manaoba in Malaita Province still unused because of disputes over the land.
He said the Ministry of Communications and Aviation hoped the landowners of LomLom and Manaoba would follow the example of those in Parasi and allowing their airfields to be opened.