14 Aug 2002

Solomons Prime Minister may not go to Forum following strike

6:33 pm on 14 August 2002

It has still not been confirmed if the Solomon Islands prime minister, Sir Allen Kemakeza, will attend the Forum leader's summit in Suva.

Sir Allen was to have left Honiara yesterday to attend the summit but - as our correspondent, George Atkin reports - his departure was disrupted by a union strike......

"Sir Allen and his 12 member delegation should have left for Suva yesterday but were stopped from leaving by a sit in protest by civil aviation, immigration, customs and quarantine officers."

The protest disrupted both international and domestic services but the domestic services have now been restored.

Sir Allens office says he is still to decide whether to attend the summit.