Solomons' government denies US vessel blocked from its shores ^Featured

Reports said the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry had been denied entry into Solomon Islands for a routine port call.

A US official said the vessel was unable to enter Honiara for a routine port call because the Solomon Islands government did not respond to a request for it to refuel and provision.

But Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said it was a miscommunication.

He said there was a delay in granting approval for the vessel to enter, largely due to not receiving the relevant information on time.

Approval was granted on August 20 but by the time it was communicated that evening, the Oliver Henry had left Solomon Islands.

The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until it updates its approval process.

Speaking at a ceremony to welcome the visiting United States Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy, in Honiara on Tuesday, Sogavare said there had been a delay in the granting of approval for entry into the country to the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry due primarily to the appropriate information not being sent to the Office of Prime Minister on time.

In relation to a British vessel, HMS Spey, the approval process to enter Solomon Islands was aborted when the Prime Minister's Office received notification from the British High Commission in Honiara that they were no longer seeking approval for the ship to enter the country.

The government said the delay in these approvals demonstrates the need for the government to review and refine its approval requirements and procedures for visiting military vessels in Solomon Islands.

"To this end, we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country. Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier," Sogavare said.

These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels.

Solomon Islands has experienced foreign naval vessels entering the country's waters this year without diplomatic clearance granted.

The government said Solomon Islands wants to see a partnership in place to build national capacity to police its Exclusive Economic Zones. Once that process and procedures are in place suspension of naval vessel visits will be lifted.

The government has communicated its position to all countries requesting to send naval ships into Solomon Islands' waters.

Meanwhile, the Government and people of Solomon Islands welcomed the visit of USNS Mercy which is now in Honiara.

The United States Medical team in partnership with the Solomons' Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be carrying out a number of health programmes in Honiara and in some provinces over the next few days.

- Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation