BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
REMOVAL of Unexploded Ordinances continue to be a commitment in Solomon Islands for the United States of America, Japan and Australia.
Next week starting on August 7 to 10, a high number of official delegates from United States of America (USA), Japan, Australia and New Zealand will be visiting the country for the 80th Commemoration of the Guadalcanal Campaign (G80) during the Second World War.
As ‘World War II remains’ such as Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) continue to be a threat to Solomon Islands environment to this present, the high level tourism sector panel at this week’s conference leading up for the 80th Commemoration were asked if whether government bilateral meetings next week will include continuous removals of ‘explosives’.
In first response, Head of US Mission to Solomon Islands Russell Comeau explained that he will not get into too many specifics about what the bilateral meetings will be, but he envision that they would continue discussion on UXO removals.
The Head of US Mission to Solomon Islands on a positive note said that they have recently put out a tender to restart mapping of the UXO program that was stopped a couple of years ago.
“We have recently put out a tender to restart our mapping of the UXO program that was paused about two years ago, and so we will be discussing that in the next of other capacity building issues we will be discussing as well,” said Comeau.
In support, Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan explained that Australia has a very long standing UXO program in Solomon Islands, as they have their Australian Defence Force (ADF) personal committed with the EOD Unit or Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Hell’s Point.
“We also have regular exercises where Australian personals come here to help identify and disarm the UXO, we have a program which is to extend the capability of the EOD Unit, including providing some additional equipment. We will also extend the site at Hell’s Point, so all of us who were the main combating nations in the Second World War recognise that we came with this problem on your soil.
“The ammunitions were not yours, we fought between ourselves, so we have a common commitment to removing it.
“I know there is a lot of it here on Guadalcanal and the provinces, and it will take some time of course to remove them,” said Strahan.
Japanese Ambassador to SI, His Excellency (HE) Yoshiaki Miwa on behalf of Japan also expressed support towards the UXO operation by providing equipment.
The high level tourism sector panel present yesterday at the G80 Press Conference consisted of the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) Bunyan (Barney) Sivoro, the Head of Sales and Marketing of Tourism Solomons Ms Fiona Teama, Travel Solomons owner Ms Karen Faimua, Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan, Head of US Mission to Solomon Islands Russell Comeau, Japan Ambassador to SI Yoshiaki Miwa, New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Schwass and Bruce Saunders of SI Scouts and Coast Watchers.
The reason as to why ‘whether commitments to removal of UXOs still remained a priority’ was questioned is because Solomon Islands is a high tourism destination within the world, and, the ‘environmental safety’ for visitors and citizens is paramount for the future.
It is understood that the upcoming World War II commemoration events for next week are organised and coordinated by MCT and Tourism Solomons. A special World War II Cruise also to Tulaghi is organised by Travel Solomons.
