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MR. AKUILA MAKUTU WARADI, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND CIVIL AVIATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION TWICE WEEKLY FLIGHT OF AIR PACIFIC TO FUNAFUTI, TUVALU (ATR42 - 500 SERIES) VENUE: FUNAFUTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DATE: THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST 2008. SALUTATIONS HE The Rev. Sir Filoimea Telito, Governor General of Tuvalu, & Madame Telito Hon. Taavau Teii, Acting Prime Minister & Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Natural Resources, Tuvalu Hon. Taukelina Finikaso, Minister for Communication, Transport & Tourism, Tuvalu Ministers in the Tuvalu Cabinet Mr. Tapugao Falefou, Permanent Secretary for Communication, Transport and Tourism, Tuvalu Mr. Tony Everitt, Chief Executive Officer, South Pacific Travel. Mr. John Campbell, Chief Executive & Managing Director Air Pacific Limited Members of the Tuvalu Media and the Fiji Media. Ladies and Gentlemen, Invited Guests. Bula, Talofa On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Civil Aviation I bring warm greetings from the Government and the peoples of Fiji to the Government and the peoples of neighbouring Tuvalu on this important occasion where we are witnesses to the inaugural twice weekly flights between Funafuti and Nadi using Fiji’s national airline the Air Pacific’s ATR42 – 500 aircraft series. HISTORY The beauty of Tuvalu is something to behold. As our aircraft approached the Funafuti International Airport we were awed as do many other visitors to your lovely country before us, by the scenic beauty that is Tuvalu. The Tuvalu archipelago I am told consists of six true atolls and three reef islands. A tourist haven. And its pristine beauty is what Air Pacific and Fiji would like to explore further if not to exploit to our common good. The true atolls I am told, are natural beauties, untapped and not spoilt by pollutants that most tourist destinations in our Region suffer from. As single islands Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, and Nukulaelae, while Nanumaga, Niulakita, and Niutao are as yet untouched tourism hot spots. The last three have small salt-water ponds, while Nanumea I am further told has a fresh water pond, unusual for an atoll. The current population (2005 census) is 11,636 The Republic of the Fiji Islands and Tuvalu has a history that goes back hundreds of years. This relationship saw the 2 countries fighting side by side alongside their British allies during the 2nd World War. In succeeding years, this relationship founded on respect by our forbearers for one another, grew in maturity with our 2 population interacting in the fields of education, cultural exchanges and trade. Fiji has a fairly large population of Tuvaluans who are contributing to Fiji’s social and economic progress. . Through history the 2 countries are linked. And through our geography the same seas that touches the shores of Tuvalu is the same sea that caresses our beaches - the Pacific Ocean. AIR TRANSPORT Like Fiji, Tuvalu is surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean. This poses a number of challenges, the biggest if not the most critical is transportation. To Island States like us, we resort to 2 modes of transport. Sea faring and air transportation It is on the latter, that I would like to talk on. With the advent of air transportation Pacific Island States are linked through air routes. Air Pacific’s decision to commence this twice weekly flight to Tuvalu, as alluded to earlier by the CEO & MD of the Air Pacific in his address has a great bearing on this. AIR PACIFIC The national airline of Fiji is no stranger to Pacific Island States. From a humble beginning in 1951 the airline, then known as the Fiji Airways began services on domestic routes in Fiji. Ten years later the airline took that first step into what was then a relatively unknown world of international aviation when it flew to Tonga. Pacific Island States were encouraged to buy shares in the airline making it a truly Pacific owned airline. Over the years as PIC States developed and grew in economic strength and power they established their own national airlines and shareholding in Air Pacific by these States slowly dwindled to 5 (51% by Fiji; 0.27% each by Kiribati and Tonga; 12% by Samoa; and 0.08% by Nauru) apart from shares by Qantas (46%) and Air NZ (1.94%). 47 years since its first international flight, Air Pacific now links Fiji to 17 cities in 11 countries. This inaugural flight to Funafuti (Tuvalu) makes it the 18th city in 12 countries. This air service should help both States expand themselves as a tourist and investment destination with its closest markets Australia and New Zealand. AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT As the Hon. Minister said in his address, the importance of this newly established alliance for Air Pacific, notwithstanding the economic benefits that both the peoples of our two nations will get as a result, is a fact that the Interim Government of Fiji is grateful for and fully appreciates. The accommodating nature of the Government of Tuvalu in readily allowing Fiji to activate the provisions of the Air Services Agreement we had concluded in Suva on the 15th December 1989 is further testament to this burgeoning relationship. In accordance with this Air Services Agreement the designated airlines of the 2 countries are given beyond points or 5th Freedom Traffic Rights beyond their respective shores. There are no intermediate points agreed to in the ASA for either side. In this regard Fiji stands ready to engage in bilateral air transport talks with the Tuvalu aeronautical authorities. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Civil Aviation in his capacity as the Minister responsible for the economic regulation of the aviation industry in Fiji, has firmly set his sight on ensuring that international air transport links for Fiji with neighbouring countries like Tuvalu and with the rest of the world not only remains open but continue to expand to new horizons. Air transport is Fiji’s lifeline to the world and so it is for Tuvalu. We look after the sector well and the sector will look after us, by opening up routes to lucrative trade and tourism markets regionally and beyond to the international community. The entry thus into the market of Air Pacific’s aircraft ATR42-500 is an extension of its target to increase capacity to blend with the tourism development in Tuvalu for new investors and new players. It is noted that the aircraft has a capacity to carry a maximum of 42 passengers. Fiji’s strategic location in the Pacific Region is our strength, which used properly through educated utilization of our air services agreements will bring us untold economic and social relief. It is a fact of life that history can be rewritten. Geography cannot. AFTER INDEPENDENCE In the 37 years since our Independence, Fiji has managed to establish an air transport infrastructure that is the envy of many. These achievements have been made possible through the strategic development of our domestic aviation laws that encompasses proper and effective economic regulation and technical regulation of the mechanics and machinery of our aviation industry. These activities are supplemented by the ongoing strategic review & synchronization of these laws with those introduced and established by the ICAO in our continuing efforts to maintain the high standard we had set for ourselves in terms of aviation security and aviation safety both straddled by policies that promote and protect our environment. CONCLUDING REMARKS HE The Rev. Sir Filoimea Telito, Governor General of Tuvalu, & Madame Telito Hon. Taavau Teii, Acting Prime Minister & Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Natural Resources, Tuvalu Hon. Taukelina Finikaso, Minister for Communication, Transport & Tourism, Tuvalu Ministers in the Tuvalu Cabinet Mr. Tapugao Falefou, Permanent Secretary for Communication, Transport and Tourism, Tuvalu Mr. Samuelu Lolaniu, Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji for Tuvalu. Mr. Tony Everitt, Chief Executive Officer, South Pacific Travel. Mr. John Campbell, Chief Executive & Managing Director Air Pacific Limited Members of the Fiji & Tuvalu Media. Ladies and Gentlemen, Invited Guests. On behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands and members of his Interim Government and on behalf of the peoples and Government of Fiji I wish the Government and the peoples of Tuvalu the very best in the alliance forged today with Fiji’s national air carrier, Air Pacific. And I pray that the Mighty Hand of the Living God we all worship will richly bless the Air Pacific and all those who will serve in it. And those served by it. DCA/AMW, 20th August 2008 -End- |
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