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Sunken US warship wreckage found after 76 years in our shores

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Sullivan brothers photographed on board the USS Juneau, 14 Feb. 1942. From left to right: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and George Sullivan (Courtesy U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)

By Alfred Sasako

THE wreckage of a United States warship, sank during the Second World War in our waters, has been found after lying on the ocean floor for some 76 years.

USS Juneau was discovered on 17th March this year by philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s expedition crew on the Research Vessel Petrel.

The expedition team said in a statement it first identified the USS Juneau on Saturday using sonar technology and then used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to verify the wreckage on Sunday.

The USS Juneau was sunk by a Japanese torpedo with the loss of 687 sailors.

The Sullivan brothers photographed on board the USS Juneau, 14 Feb. 1942. From left to right: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and George Sullivan (Courtesy
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)

Five brothers from the Sullivan family were famously lost on the USS Juneau. Their story, which attracted widespread attention, was depicted in the 1944 movie “The Fighting Sullivans.”

Two USS Navy ships have been named “The Sullivans” in memory of the brothers. The brothers wanted to serve on the same ship, despite naval policies preventing siblings from serving together.

According to a statement issued on the discovery, the USS Juneau was found on St. Patrick’s Day resting on the seafloor near the Solomon Islands. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from the research vessel Petrel first identified the wreck using sonar on March 17.

“The following day, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) was deployed from Petrel to verify the wreckage, capturing video footage of the Juneau.

“We certainly didn’t plan to find the Juneau on St. Patrick’s Day. The variables of these searches are just too great,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Paul Allen, in a statement. “But finding the USS Juneau on Saint Patrick’s Day is an unexpected coincidence to the Sullivan brothers and all the service members who were lost 76 years ago,” the statement said.

The USS Juneau In New York Harbor, 11 Feb. 1942. (Courtesy the U.S. National Archives).

Juneau was sunk on 13 November 1942 during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

When a second torpedo hit her port side, an explosion cut the ship in half, killing most of the crew. The light cruiser sank in just 30 seconds. Around 115 of Juneau’s crew are believed to have survived the sinking, including, possibly, two of the Sullivan brothers. However, with U.S. forces concerned about the risk of further Japanese attacks, rescue efforts did not take place until eight days later. Only 10 men were rescued from the water.

The first ship named after the brothers, USS The Sullivans (DD-537), was commissioned in 1943 and is now a museum ship in Buffalo. The second ship to bear the family name (DDG-68) is in active service as a guided missile destroyer.

“As the fifth commanding officer of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), a ship named after five brothers, I am excited to hear that Allen and his team were able to locate the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL 52) that sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal,” said Vice Adm. Rich Brown, commander, Naval Surface Forces, in a statement.

“The story of the USS Juneau crew and Sullivan brothers epitomize the service and sacrifice of our nation’s greatest generation.”

Giving back to the community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mrs and Mr Popora with THC Leader, Ms Alice Hsu in the clinic.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

DEPUTY  Counselor of the Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands Mr Oliver Weng and Taiwan Health Centre Leader in Solomon Islands, Ms Alice Hsu paid a visit to Sape Private Medical Clinic in North Guadalcanal on Wednesday.

Located in the heart of Guadalcanal Plains, the clinic is owned and run by Dr Paulson Bosawai Popora of Sape village, North Guadalcanal.

Mrs and Mr Popora with THC Leader, Ms Alice Hsu in the clinic.

A former Taiwan Scholarship recipient himself, he briefly spoke of how studying in Taiwan inspired him to return home with the knowledge, experience and skills he gained in Taiwan and utilise them to start something in his community.

Mr Popora stressed that having lived and studied in Taiwan he saw how hardworking Taiwanese people are and spoke of how both old and young people go out of their way to do volunteer work at various places.

In relation whilst referring to his university days in Southern Taiwan, Tainan at the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), he said that they had to do community service which was not credited but a requirement to graduate and basically involved cleaning around the school and hospital.

Left to right, Deputy Counselor Mr Oliver Weng, Mrs and Mr Popora and THC Leader, Ms Alice Hsu.

“What struck me is working without any credit at all. We would clean around the hospital and take care of the elderly. At that time, this gave me the idea that I would do something when I return home,” said Popora.

He furthered that besides running the clinic he is also involved in providing community services for his people.

Impacts of climate change on Pacific food

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, is the Solomon Islands getting any help from the FAO and the WHO on how climate change is affecting the country and already impacting on local food systems and food security?

“A high-level meeting in Rome last November warned that climate change posed an “alarming threat to food systems and food security in the Pacific islands.”

“The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s director-general José Graziano da Silva then expressed Pacific leaders’ concerns on how climate impacts contribute to malnutrition and obesity…

“The leaders elaborated on how malnutrition led to non-communicable diseases, which account for 75 per cent of adult deaths in the region.

“Mr da Silva said promoting local products was essential rather than being reliant on imported foods, due to climate change.

“It was said that the FAO was working with the World Health Organisation on a pilot programme in the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Samoa on promoting healthy and fresh foods.

“It was said it was hoped to spread the programme across the Pacific.

“Nine countries participated in the meeting including Kiribati, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia.

“In a joint statement, the leaders reiterated their anxiety about ecosystem degradation and other challenges encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goal 14 and called upon the international community to assist in maximizing the sustainable utilization of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors for the benefit of the small island developing states.

“They further recalled the endorsement of the Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in SIDS and called for immediate implementation.” Source: RNZI 2017 (All Rights Reserved)

I know only of the project initiated with help from New Zealand in promoting fish farming in the country but very little else of what might be happening with help from the two international agencies that are already aiding Nauru, Samoa and the Marshall Islands, but all with less populations than the Solomon Islands

Perhaps, this piece might induce some answers on the assistance being given to the SIG from the international community.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Breaking the cycle of sexual and family violence by courageously speaking out

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, police in the Western Province recently reported arresting a man for allegedly having had sexual intercourse with a young girl of 6 years of age.

The report has shocked the nation, but sadly, it is just one more case coming to light of the prevailing incidences of sexual violence against women and young girls.

In the particular case of the tragic incident allegedly involving the 6 year old child, there appears from local reports, that a witness had the courage to report the allegations to the police and this led to the man’s arrest.

A young women reporting sexual violence shows strong courage in speaking out and it is hoped those that do will have the assistance and protection from a determined advisor, such as the Family Support Centre provides.

The RSIPF I believe is not insensitive in dealing with reports of sexual and family violence and the SI legal system is similarly not insensitive to dealing with such cases when brought before the court.

The SIG has taken measures to improve protection for women and girl’s victims of sexual violence but the need to speak up is crucial to bringing to light the kind of cases that has just been exposed in the Western Province.

It is my hope that more victims will get the support and protection they still need to have the courage and determination to report sexual violence in all its forms.

I know Women’s organizations in the Solomon Islands, including the Family Support Centre, are increasingly concerned about the horrible stories of sexual violence and family violence that continually come to light and I hope, too that they will continue to support victims and strive to encourage victims to speak out, given that support measures are in hand for them.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

The truth behind SINUSA’s 14-day strike notice

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THIS is to reveal the reason why Reginald Ngati and his group are issuing the 14 days strike notice as appeared in the Islands Sun’s issue of Thursday March 22, 2018.

The truth behind their call for my removal was because as the Pro-Vice Chancellor responsible for students’ matters, I declared the election of Reginald Ngati and his executive on October 31, 2017 NULL and VOID.

This is the full account of what happened;

Following my declaration of the results of SINUSA election held on October 31, 2017 where Reginald Ngati’s executive was elected as Executive of SINUSA, I received a petition dated November 13, 2017 from the losing candidates complaining and disagreeing with the process and election results.

In view of the petition and in fairness to the petitioner, I sanctioned the formation of a Special Select Committee (SSC) to look into the matter.

The Committee comprised three senior officers of the university with objective of consulting relevant documents, gathering facts and information relating to the very issues raised in the petition and offer recommendation(s) whether the election process was fair or otherwise.

The SSC as per their findings had recommended that;

  1. The elections results for SINUSA’s executive held on October 31, 2017 be declared Null and Void due to the noncompliance with SINUSA’s Constitution Section 26 sub-section (3) and (5) and section 28, sub-section (2).
  2. Sections 26, 27 and 28 of SINUSA’s Constitution be reviewed and amended to specifically provide clear procedures and guidelines for the election of SINUSA’s executives.
  3. Election Procedures and guidelines be developed and produced to provide guidance to the appointed Returning Officer.
  4. An official list of registered students and financial members of SINUSA to be produced as voters list and used to identify voters (students) during the election.

As a consequence of the breach of the SINUSA Constitution as in recommendation 1 above, I as the person who declared the election results uphold the recommendations of the SSC and further declared that the SINUSA election held on October 31, 2017 and the executive voted-in Null and Void.

Legal opinion was also sought from the University Legal Counsel on the same also affirmed the recommendation.

With this declaration the SINUSA executive elected then (Reginald Ngati’s Executive) should have relinquished their leadership of SINUSA forthwith.

In view of the above, SINU Management is of the view that the SINUSA election held on October 31, 2017 was not valid and that it doesn’t recognise Reginald Ngati and his group as SINUSA executive.

Furthermore more Reginald Ngati does not the mandate to call him the President of SINUSA and that he and his former executive members do not have the authority to use the SINUSA letterhead and office facilities.

In line with the SSC’s recommendation 2 and 3 and in the interim, I have appointed the students’ representative to the SINU Council, Mr Hardyson Maenu’u to supervise the SINUSA Secretariat and to coordinate the review of the relevant sections of the SINUSA Constitution as identified above by the SCC, before a fresh election is called.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor will call for new nominations and elections in the near future for SINUSA Executive and Reginald Ngati and his group are free to re-contest if they so wish.

Reginald Ngati and his former executive were also asked to provide a brief report of his stint as SINUSA President to the Secretariat and to hand all keys and any other equipment(s) belonging to SINUSA to SINUSA Secretariat office by close of business on Friday March 2, 2018.

Sadly, they failed to do so.

The Property Department had to be called to change the lock to enable Mr Maenu’u to move into the SINUSA office.

For information of Mr Ngati and his group, my employment contract with SINU as the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Corporate) will lapse on March 31, 2018, and my employer, the SINU Council has already advertised the position.

So their 14 days strike notice is no longer needed.

I have already decided not to re-apply for the position, so I encourage Reginald Ngati and his group to put forward their candidate who will perform better than me.

For me, I have served SICHE (and now SINU) to the best of my ability over the past seven years and it is time I move on.

Finally, I wish to advise all SINU students to consider their purpose of being at SINU and not to allow themselves to be used by Reginald Ngati and his group to pursue their selfish political agenda.

Donald Malasa

Pro Vice-Chancellor [Corporate]

Solomon Islands National University

Clean environment for clean water

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HAVE you ever imagined life without access to clean water or a sanitation facility?

This is the life for most of our people.

A study in 2015 by WASH found out that 70 out of 100 people in the country still don’t have access to clean water and sanitation.

Without sanitation facilities, people’s only option is open defaecation.

This in turn contributes to the contamination of our water source, affecting our personal health and hygiene.

This is serious and so our government and people really need to address this issue.

There is a big task ahead for us to make sure there is access to clean water and sanitation for everyone.

Water is essential for our wellbeing and so the UN Global goals have prioritized Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 for clean water and sanitation.

SDG 6 hopes that by 2030, everyone in the country should have access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as access adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene and end open defaecation amongst other target goals.

If so, the government as a signatory member to the UN only have 12 years to achieve SDG 6.

Yesterday we join the rest of the world to mark ‘world water day’.

Let us not just talk about water as essential for life.

Let us join force in being strident on the issue of water and sanitation so that both our local and national governments can also prioritise development of these important infrastructures in our local communities.

Let us not wait for our development partners to lead the way.

This is our country, our environment.

Let us be responsible for our own wellbeing.

Budget cut takes huge toll on SINU

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Permanent Secretary for MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie.

By Gary Hatigeva

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is one of the latest major government institutes said to be anticipating impacts of the budget cut which was served across the board for all government ministries in this year’s budget.

This follows confirmation from the MEHRD, which is also responsible for the institute, which expressed concerns over implementation shortfalls that might be experienced due to what is seen as a smaller allocation.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Dr Franco Rodie expressed this when responding to queries and comments regarding the cut, which is said to be very huge, having compared to last year’s allocation.

In his remarks, the MP for East Malaita and Opposition Leader, Manasseh Maelanga, suggested that the cut on SINU budget allocation is huge and raised concerns that the University might not be able to complete all its programmes for this year.

“With the cut, would that guarantee a smooth operation for the university, and can the university afford to do all that have been outlined for this year?” the opposition leader asked.

“I think it is a very big cut on the SINU budget, and they’ll find it very hard with the allocation,” Maelanga said.

Meanwhile, when responding to some of the questions raised, Mr Rodie expressed total agreement with the Opposition Leader’s sentiments, adding that it is clear the cut is very huge and the ministry had tried all it can to maintain the allocation.

But he added that the cut being stretched across the floor, the ministry together with the SINU management are collaborating on how to re-strategise on the Institute’s activities in order to properly control the use of limited $10 million funds to be made available.

“But of course, it is a common knowledge that this is very big, and as the Honorable Member of Parliament for East Malaita has rightly stated, it is indeed a big cut and it’s quite unbelievable how SINU will be able to operate with such amount,” Rodie added.

However, when questioned on the Ministry’s strategy to cover for the gap if widened, Rodie explained that if given the opportunity and if appropriate, the Ministry, together with SINU will take things back to the table and arrange for negotiations.

“It will give us a few months to get feedback from the institute based on the budget, and whatever steps and strategies to fill the gap will also depend very much on what SINU will repost to us.

“And should there be a need later this year based on SINU reports, then we might come back to seek additional support,” Rodie further explained.

He concluded that after all, the university belongs to the country and any government of the day, but added that with such small amount, having government being its main source of revenue, the cut will really affect the institute’s operation for this year.

Police road inspection this weekend

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

POLICE Traffic Officers will commence an operation this weekend, Police Commissioner Mathew Varley said.

The operation will start today aiming unlicensed vehicles, unlicensed drivers and drink driving.

Mr Varley said the operation aims to send out the message on traffic safety and unlicensed driving, particularly drink driving which is still not getting through in relation to drivers on the road.

“The top three cases we deal with is unlicensed motor vehicle, unlicensed drivers and careless driving is the number one matter we are dealing with.

“What I mean by this is people driving inconsiderably carelessly on our road creating extra lane, driving on footbath that’s been a huge focus for us.”

Varley explains that the traffic condition is caused by the roadworks, coupled with poor and disrespectful driving behaviour by people.

He emphasises that careless driving can lead to the driver’s death or of passengers or innocent road users.

This coming weekend if any vehicle is caught drink driving or without valid licence, they are expect to be prosecuted.

Police have reported 292 prosecution cases in Honiara alone in early January this year.

86 cases on careless driving, seven detected for unlicensed vehicle and 47 cases from drink and driving.

Varley encourages and urges citizens if they know of any friends or families engaged in drink driving, they should speak out and step in and take responsibility by telling them not to drive while on alcohol.

MHMS to establish new enforcement unit

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services is in the process of putting together resources and funds for the establishment of a new unit.

This, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Dr Tenneth Dalipanda revealed when questioned on the status of health and other related acts, with regards to consumable goods and food services provided in the country.

The unit according to Mr Dalipanda is established to execute all its Health acts, governing the operations of restaurants, shops and other related commercial services that people receive.

The Enforcement Unit was proposed to carry out work under the Ministry programme, enforcing its long overdue acts that were passed decades ago but said to have lacked implementation from the Ministry and stakeholders involved.

The PS however clarified that the intention of establishment is not to overshadow the good work of police and related law enforcing institutes, but basically to enforce strictly, Health Act related matters.

He said the Unit’s establishment is also to ensure service provided to the Solomon Islands population, meet health standards as laid out in the laws in order to protect their health safety.

He added that officers engaged will do follow-ups based on reports and closely monitor the health side of businesses and ensure there is constant compliance.

He however urged the general public to help the ministry and key stakeholders involved in the implementation and enforcement exercises, by reporting matters to the ministry so those caught breaching these laws are properly dealt with.

He then assured that the Ministry will ensure the unit carries out its roles without influence or corrupt related practices, and this will be done through group work approach.

He explained that instead of the usual practice, under the new unit, there will be at least four officers engaged in a group so that while there is thorough monitoring and inspections on service providers, those involved also do check and balance on each other.

The Unit is expected to start rolling out its programmes after the passage of the 2018 budget, which is expected around April.

Maelanga acknowledges work of MEHRD

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

THE Leader of the Official Opposition Group and Member of Parliament for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga has acknowledged the outstanding work the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) accomplished through its activities on how it has handled the ‘university students’ issue.

The East Malaita MP made this statement during the presentation and witnessing from officials of the Education Ministry at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Maelanga thanked the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Dr Franco Rodie and his staff for what he described as job well-done and for seeing it through with the issues his office continue to raise as their mandatory role.

“I think you all know those are issues the I’ve been very vocal about in the past months since taking up office, but again, you have done well from your part,” Maelanga added.

He also acknowledged the PS and his Director for National Training Unit (NTU) for seeing the importance of giving an extension to some of the students who were left behind due to various circumstances.

In a brief interview, the opposition leader pointed out that the education ministry has done a lot in its effort to achieve its ultimate goal of enhancing access to better education and drafting programmes to address deficiencies relevant areas outside of those directly related to the mainstream education sector, but have direct impacts on the total populous, especially the rural education settings.

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