One of the Solar Panels installed to receive energy from sunlight and generate electricity power to support one of the Airport Ground Lights was badly damaged after being hit by stone.
Ministry of Communication and Aviation Condemns Vandalism of Santa Cruz (Lata) Airport Runway Airfield Ground Lighting System.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) strongly condemns the recent vandalism of the Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) system on the runway at Santa Cruz (Lata) Airport. This deliberate act of destruction is a serious offense that endangers aviation safety, disrupts essential air transport services, and damages critical national infrastructure.
Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) is one of the most critical safety systems within an airport infrastructure. It provides essential visual guidance to pilots during take-off, landing, and ground manoeuvring operations under night-time conditions and periods of poor visibility such as cloudy weather. Any damage to this system significantly compromises the safety and reliability of airport operations and may result in flight delays, cancellations, or operational restrictions.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation was informed that the first incident involved members of the public spitting betel nut on the runway Airfield Ground lights, requiring cleaning and maintenance. Following the first incident, a team comprising of officers from the Lata Airport Project Support Team (PST), Egis Ltd and China Harbour Engineering Company safeguard have continuously conducted public awareness activities at the project site and within the surrounding communities to promote the protection of airport infrastructure and discourage acts of vandalism.
However, despite these public awareness efforts, a second incident has occurred where some people threw stones at some of the solar panels that are connected to the AG lighting system to generate energy (electricity) power from sunlight for quality functioning of the lights. This caused macro-fractures to the cells of the solar panels which resulted in the solar panels being damaged and malfunctioned.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation is deeply concerned by this irresponsible actions. Such acts undermine the significant investment made in improving aviation infrastructure and negatively affect the communities that depend on reliable air transport for medical services, business, education, tourism, and the delivery of essential supplies. The Ministry wish to remind people living in and around Lata town particularly those living in close-by communities to the upgraded Lata airport to respect and look after these airport lights as they are very vital for the operations and safety within and surrounding the vicinity of the Lata airport.
People must also know that upgrading of aviation infrastructure to modernized standards such as the Lata Airport substantially renders a huge cost to the Government of Solomon Islands and Donor Partners who have aided our national Government to invest in such airport development. Infrastructures installed along the airport runway such as the Airport Ground Lighting is a very expensive equipment to purchase. Therefore, acts of vandalism on airport infrastructures such as the Airport Ground Lighting is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
The Ministry is working closely with the Police Force in Lata to investigate these vandalism incidents and urges anyone with information that may assist the investigation to report it to the Lata Police. Those responsible should expect to face the full consequences of the law.
The Ministry also calls on community leaders, landowners, youth groups, churches, and all residents of Temotu Province to work together in protecting public infrastructure. Airports are strategic national assets that serve the entire nation, and their protection is a shared responsibility.
The Ministry would also like to inform members of the public living in Lata communities that if such acts of vandalism was intentionally carried out due to disagreements on issues regarding payment of land and properties, there are appropriate ways or approaches that can be undertaken to reach the Communication and Aviation Ministry so as to deal with and sort out such matters.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation remains committed to ensuring the safety, security, and resilience of Solomon Islands’ aviation network and will continue working with all stakeholders to maintain safe and reliable air transport services for all Solomon Islanders.
ENDS
Another one of the solar panels incurring micro-fractures after being thrown a stone at.
One of the Airport Ground Lights and its solar panel were being spat on with betel-nut juice, resulting in both equipment having betel-nut stains on them.