US launches $8.2m UXO project in SI

UNITED States this week launched a USD$1 million (SBD$8.2 million) project to address the World World II bomb issue in Solomon Islands.

The funding will be channelled through The HALO Trust (HALO), which will launch a comprehensive unexploded ordnance (UXO) project here starting 1 January 2023. 

“This project will address UXO priorities and enhance explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity with the Ministry of National Police and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force,” a statement from the US Government says.

“This project is part of President Biden’s announcement at the United States-Pacific Island Country Summit, where UXO priorities were one of nine U.S. commitments to implement the Declaration on US-Pacific Partnership,” the statement added.

“The United States is a Pacific nation—geographically, economically, historically, and culturally—and remains invested in supporting a prosperous Pacific.

“In Solomon Islands, the United States has provided more than $6.8 million since 2011 to establish a national capacity with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to identify and destroy explosive remnants of war. 

“This included training 13 engineers who have conducted more than 1,200 explosive ordnance callouts and destroyed more than 29,746 items of UXO. 

“The United States’ work over the past decade to remediate explosive hazards is foundational for a prosperous Solomon Islands and continues to advance humanitarian and development priorities on land free of UXO.”

The statement said HALO will advance shared United States-Solomon Islands priorities. 

“With funding from the United States, HALO will locate and mark World War II legacy UXO while providing essential training and capacity building to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD unit. 

“This includes using existing data and historical records as well as conducting search activities to update the national UXO database, which will inform future explosive ordnance risk education and explosive hazard responses to UXO contamination by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD unit. 

“US funding will also provide technical advice while assisting the Ministry of National Police to establish a UXO coordination office.

“The United States, through its Conventional Weapons Destruction program, has funded work in the Pacific since 2009.” 

Since 1993, the United States has invested more than USD$4.7 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories. 

The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction.

THE country’s first ambassador to China, John Moffat Fugui, died Thursday in Beijing from cardiac arrest.

That’s according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET).

Cardiac arrest, according to medical science, occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops pumping.

If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs.

According to science, cardiac arrests are caused by certain types of arrhythmias that prevent the heart from pumping blood. It is a medical emergency.

Fugui is 61 at the time of his passing.

The ministry said it is currently liaising with the People’s Republic of China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on arrangements to bring Fugui’s body home.

“A condolence book will be made open for signature to the Government and the diplomatic community,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Fugui is an inspirational leader, a person who loved his country and devoted his life to serve,” the statement said.

“He is a diplomat with great visions to connect Solomon Islands with the biggest country in the world that is China.

“He was also a well-read diplomat who interacted well with youths until his passing.”

Apart from his recent assignment as a diplomat, the late Fugui was a Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2020.

He held a number of ministerial posts including as Minister of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Minister of Public Service, Minister of Environment, Conservation & Meteorology, and Disaster Management and as Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand as well as a Masters in Politics from the University of Hawaii, Monoa, Honolulu.

MFAET PRESS STATEMENT.

BY NED GAGAHE

The chief of Nifiloli island of the Vaeakau district, Temotu province, has welcomed the ministry of Health’s (MHMS) move to tackle the new drug – Copen.

Copen has reached the furthest parts of eastern Solomon Islands.

Edward Makiu says Copen is the latest threat to children and youths in his community, after it was introduced earlier this year by youths travelling there from Honiara.

Mr Makiu urges the MHMS and government to quickly make the substance illegal.

The importance of lawmakers making Copen illegal is it would enable community leaders and school admins to regulate the substance in their communities and schools, he adds.

“Copen usage has reached our isolated communities in the east of the country, and earlier this year community elders held a meeting to try and curtail its usage among young people.

“There are already a lot of factors challenging our youth’s education, health and welfare, and Copen is adding to our problems, so it is heartening to see government through the MHMS acting on it.”

Makiu said what his community wants is for the substance to be made illegal by any legislation made in parliament, and MHMS’s announcement means a step closer to achieving this.

With chief Makiu’s report, Copen is now reported throughout the whole country, with the exception of Makira-Ulawa province.

In October Premier of Makira-Ulawa Hon Julian Makaa relayed to Island Sun not having heard of the substance’s presence in his province. However, he did not rule out the possibility of it being otherwise.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Dr Culwick Togamana told parliament that his ministry will take Copen head-on.

“The Ministry of Health will like to investigate further and we need to work closely with the RSPIF attain some samples of copen to do lab analysis.

“If we get hold of this substance, we can send it overseas for testing of chemical constitutes.”

Togamana also said the issue of Copen will also be included in the Solomon Islands school health survey to gauge more information.

The Health minister also mentioned the intent to resource the national laboratory to enable it to test Copen in the near future.

Copen is a substance which is yet to be recognised by the country’s law as a drug, or as an illegal one.

But already it is reportedly affecting users which are mainly students, primary and secondary.

It is reportedly most prevalent in the capital, Honiara, followed by Renbel and Choiseul province.

Prior to MHMS taking up the Copen issue, the approach by authority was to leave it to be dealt with on the community and parent level.

However, this approach has failed, with many parents and school teachers reporting that Copen production and usage is rife in their communities.

Copen is reportedly made using tobacco leaves and household items. The availability of these ingredients makes it easy to produce, leading to its high prevalence in communities across the country.

Country’s first ambassador to China passed away

BY NED GAGAHE

JOHN Moffat Fugui, the country’s ambassador to China, has died in Beijing yesterday, December 23 just more than a year into his new role.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the news, but has not disclose the cause of death.

Fugui, 61, was the country’s first ambassador to China after Solomon Islands switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan in 2019.

He took up his posting mid last year.

In a condolence notice published in the Island Sun today (see page 8), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Fugui as an inspirational leader who served his country with dedication and commitment.

“Fugui was instrumental in shaping Solomon Islands foreign policy and placing the country on the right side of history in formalizing diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China,” the notice reads.

“He lived a life of service, advanced and advocated the interests of our country.

“The Ministry and the country will miss the late Ambassador Fugui’s leadership and contribution in strengthening the warm and cordial relations between Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China.”

A spokesman for the ministry told Island Sun last night the ministry is working on arrangements to bring Fugui’s body home, details of which will be released later.

Fugui comes from Fourau village, east Malaita.

His career in national politics began when he was elected to Parliament as the member for Central Honiara in the August 2010 general election.

He was hen appointed Minister for the Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology in Prime Minister Danny Philip‘s Cabinet.

When Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister in November 2011, Fugui retained his position in government.

Following the 2014 general election, in which he retained his seat, Fugui was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament, on 17 December.

He was re-elected again in the 2019 elections but lost the seat a year later in an election petition case after the High Court found he bribed certain people to vote for him.

Fugui was instrumental in the Sogavare Government’s decision to switch ties from Taiwan to China, which made him the number one choice for the Beijing diplomatic position after he lost his parliamentary seat.