September 25, 2026 – HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Chargé d’Affaires Daniel O’Hara attended a handover ceremony at Hell’s Point for a classroom provided by the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific’s (MARFORPAC) Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) program to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
The classroom will support training for humanitarian demining and EOD operations. Director of UXO at the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Benzily Kasutaba and Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Mathias Lenialu joined CDA O’Hara in cutting the ribbon at the new facility.
CDA O’Hara noted that the ceremony “… reflects the shared history, values, and faith of our two countries. Starting with our shared history fighting side-by-side to end occupation and now building on our shared values of democracy and sovereignty, the United States and Solomon Islands are partnering to preserve a free and open Pacific.”
MARFORPAC EOD Officer LtCol Isaac Tibayan said, “Serving alongside our
Solomon Islands partners is especially significant to me because of the Marine
Corps’ enduring connection to Guadalcanal. It is truly an honor to work with the RSIPF EOD Department as it expands its capacity to clear UXO and make communities safer. That’s what I love about the HMA program: helping partners like the Solomon Islands build lasting capability, while sharing the training and experience we bring as Marine Corps EOD.”
Since 2025, Marine Corps Forces Pacific’s (MARFORPAC) Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) program—supported by U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) and the U.S. Government—has strengthened the Solomon Islands government’s capacity to protect its people from the enduring hazards of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Through more than $850,000 in specialized equipment and technical training, the program has enhanced the RSIPF EOD Department’s ability to conduct humanitarian demining and land-based and underwater EOD operations. The ongoing $500,000 investment in a dedicated EOD facility will further expand the department’s operational capacity, support increased clearance operations, and improve safety for communities throughout the Solomon Islands.
