political currents

Micronesia-Melanesia Air Link

George Wray of SPIA honored in Hawaii

George Wray, president of South Pacific Islands Airways, has been formally congratu lated by the House of Repre sentatives of the State of Hawaii.

Occasion was the inaugura tion in June of SPIA services between Honolulu and Port Moresby via Guam, thus estab lishing what the resolution cal led “a long desired North- South route between Mic ronesia and Melanesia.”

Speaking to the resolution in the House, Representative Fred W. Rohlfing, House Minority Leader, said: “Mr Speaker, it is an honor for me today, to offer this resolution and I appreciate the support of this body.

“I first met our honoree when I went to American Samoa in 1978, and at that time, he was still trying to practise law at the same time that he was running and building this airline. Didn’t take long before he figured out that practising law was really kind of dumb and that he would have a lot more fun being an airline executive. So that’s what he did, and I think that the results have shown that that is certainly his calling.

“The airline started as early as 1973; at that time, he had eight employees. Now, 1984, SPIA (South Pacific Island Air ways) has 225 employees.

They had one aircraft in 1973; that was an Islander, one of those little jobbers. Now they’ve got four 7075, four Twin-Otters, and an Islander. I don’t know if that’s the same Islander that you had before, George, but I hope not.

“Now there are 19 stations, whereas, in 1973, there was one and they’re all over the Pacific. Last year, 1983, SPIA carried 250,000 passengers; in 1973, 6000 passengers, and

they’ve travelled over, last year, 240 million miles.

“So, I think it’s significant that what has happened here is a growth of an indigenous island based, island owned, operated airline. And I think that this is an example of what we in Hawaii, and people of the American colonies, so to speak, the American territories of the Pacific, can do and I really think that George has done a terrific job.”

Representative Rohlfing then introduced George Wray to the members of the House. Representative Marumoto presented Mr Wray with a lei and Representative Rohlfing presented

the certified copy of the resolu tion.

The House then adjourned for 10 minutes for the purpose of extending the Aloha of House members to Mr Wray.