UK TRAVEL WARNING: Solomon IslandsPUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT5 May 2006 Solomon Islands
SUMMARY- We advise against all but essential travel to the Solomon Islands due to civil unrest. On 4 May 2006, Members of the Solomon Islands Parliament elected a new Prime Minister. Although there has been no repetition of the wide scale violence which took place in the Solomon Islands between 18 and 22 April 2006, the security situation in the country remains uncertain.
- If against our advice you decide to travel to the Solomon Islands, you should regularly monitor all available information on the local situation. You should exercise caution and avoid public gatherings and crowds, particularly in the city centre, eastern and Chinatown areas of Honiara.
- The Solomon Islands is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and subject to earthquakes.
- If against our advice you decide to travel, you should contact the British High Commission in Honiara on arrival for the latest advice on the security situation.
- The threat from terrorism in the Solomon Islands is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
SAFETY AND SECURITYTerrorism The threat from terrorism is low. However, you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Crime The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has limited resources and response times to calls for assistance are likely to be slow. Incidents affecting non-Solomon Island nationals are rare, but there is the potential for trouble due to civil unrest and drunken behaviour. You should take security precautions at all times in Honiara, and maintain a high state of personal awareness. There are still some guns held illegally in the community and a consequent risk of armed robberies and intimidation. If you plan to visit rural Guadalcanal, or the island of Malaita you are advised to check the latest advice with the British High Commission. Visits to other provinces in the Solomon Islands are generally trouble-free. You should be aware that there has been an increase in petty crime (particularly pick-pocketing in the streets and markets, and burglaries of foreign residents' homes) in Honiara over recent months. You should take sensible precautions. Political Situation We advise against all but essential travel to the Solomon Islands due to civil unrest. On 4 May 2006, Members of the Solomon Islands Parliament elected a new Prime Minister. Although there has been no repetition of the wide scale violence which took place in the Solomon Islands between 18 and 22 April 2006, the security situation in the country remains uncertain. If against our advice you decide to travel to the Solomon Islands, you should regularly monitor all available information on the local situation. You should exercise caution and avoid public gatherings and crowds, particularly in the city centre, eastern and Chinatown areas of Honiara. Local Travel Inter-island travel is by air to mainly grass and coral airstrips, or by ferryboats. Road Safety There are few roads in the Solomon Islands, 90% of these are on Guadalcanal and Malaita. Only a few of the main roads are of reasonable quality. The rest are very heavily potholed and in some areas the bridges have collapsed. Standards of driving and vehicle maintenance are poor. Be especially careful when overtaking any vehicle. Solomon Islanders chew betel nut and frequently open vehicle doors, including on the driver's side, when travelling at speed, in order to spit out the juice onto the road. Air Safety Air safety has been good but reliability of services can be patchy and cancellations occur. Visitors with international connections should note and plan accordingly. Sea Safety Ferry services are usually crowded and safety regulations not always strictly applied. It is advisable to bring your own lifejacket if contemplating sea journeys. Journeys to small and/or remote islands are usually in small-motorised "canoes". LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMSDrug use is illegal in the Solomons, and can lead to prison sentences. Swearing is a crime and can lead to large compensation claims and even jail. Dress codes, particularly for women, are modest and you will gain respect by dressing appropriately. In certain areas there are 'taboo' sites only visited by men. Solomon Islanders do not object to being photographed but you should ask permission first. Land ownership in the Solomon Islands is an important and sensitive issue. Walking and trekking off the beaten track, therefore, may require payment of a "kastom" fee to the landowner. Homosexuality is illegal in many Pacific countries. Although not often enforced, there is currently a foreigner in prison for this offence in the Solomon Islands. Open displays of affection between same-sex partners may offend local inhabitants. ENTRY REQUIREMENTSVisas are not required for British nationals visiting the Solomons. Passports should have at least six months validity, and passengers should be in possession of a return or onward ticket. We strongly advise all British nationals (including those residing in the Solomon Islands) to obtain a multi-entry visa for Australia. HEALTHWe strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. For the Solomon Islands this should include a provision for medical evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Medical facilities are very basic throughout the Solomon Islands. There are limited hospital facilities and medical supplies are not always available. Doctors are few and far between. You should take a basic medical kit with you when visiting rural and remote areas. Scuba divers should be aware that there is now a hyperbaric (decompression) chamber in Honiara. Registered dive operators can provide information on access arrangements. Malaria is endemic in the Solomon Islands and Hepatitis A and typhoid also occur. For medical/inoculations advice contact your GP, and refer to the Department of Health website. NATURAL DISASTERSThe Solomon Islands are a part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; earthquakes, tidal waves and volcanic activity can occur at any time. Cyclones occur during the rainy season (usually from November to March). | 
