The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council today welcomed the arrival in the Solomon Islands of the first stage of the Helpim Fren regional deployment to the Solomon Islands.

The Council strongly supports the initiatives which have led to the regional intervention aimed at rectifying a long period of instability and social and economic decline in the Solomon Islands.

The President of the Council, Mr Bob Lyon, said today that the corruption and lawlessness and economic vandalism which over the last three years have brought the Solomon Islands to its knees must be stopped.

He said Australia has an obligation to the people of the countries of this region to ensure their aspirations are not thwarted by the behaviour of corrupt politicians and criminals.

Mr Lyon said any attempt to portray the intervention as some sort of neo-colonialism missed the point that the deployment is at the invitation of the government of the Solomon Islands, and has received the unanimous endorsement of the Solomon Islands parliament, and of the Pacific Islands Forum.

He said that Solomon Islands has the potential to be a viable economy if its resources are managed effectively and used for national development. It has potential in agriculture, fisheries, forests and minerals and metals. The Solomon Islands had in the past been a place where Australian companies could safely and confidently do business, and he looked forward to the day when it would again be so.

Mr Lyon urged all Australians to support efforts now being made to restore law and order, governance and economic growth to the Solomon Islands.

24 July 2003

NOTE FOR EDITORS: The Council is an association of Australian businesses whose members include the major Australian companies with interests in the Solomon Islands. Media Enquiries: Bob Lyon (03) 9273 6517 or Frank Yourn (03) 3348 5142.