Prime Minister Appreciates Partnership in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua praised the Pacific Partnership mission as the Solomons Islands phase of the humanitarian civic assistance mission concluded Tuesday.

During a ceremony marking the end of 14 days of medical, veterinary and engineering projects, Dr. Sikua said the mission has further strengthened the long relationship between the governments and people of the Solomon Islands and the U.S., according to the Solomon Star. More than 4,500 patients received basic medical and dental care, engineers completed projects at three schools, and a variety of other assistance was provided, including the return of a stranded fishing vessel.

The Prime Minister’s appreciation was echoed by his Deputy Peter Tolia, during a dedication ceremony for one of the engineering projects last week.

The 2009 Pacific Partnership mission, which has already visited Somoa and Tonga in addition to Solomon Islands, is strengthening relationships at a variety of levels, as the mission includes multinational and multi-agency partners.

Military and government professionals from countries such as Australia, Canada, Chili, France, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea have provided support, as have civilian volunteers from organizations such as International Aid, Project HOPE, International Relief Teams and the University of California San Diego Pre-Dental Society.

Each has played a critical role during the mission, and the type of coordination required between these various organizations during Pacific Partnership provides practical experience that could prove valuable in the case of a future humanitarian crisis or relief effort in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility.

The four-month Pacific Partnership mission continues on to Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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Australia Joint Operations Chief Lauds Collaboration in Pacific Partnership

Australian Defence Force (ADF) Chief of Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Mark Evans, helped kick off the Solomon Islands phase of Pacific Partnership Aug. 6 during a ceremony on board the destroyer USS Mustin, which is visiting there during the humanitarian mission.

The General said Pacific Partnership is an excellent example of the synergy that comes from working collaboratively with the U.S. military, according to an Australian Department of Defence release. Indeed, a goal of Pacific Partnership from the U.S. perspective is strengthening alliances and civil-military relationships to help ensure the U.S. military is able to rapidly respond in support of emergency relief efforts in the future.

There are numerous opportunities to do just that during Pacific Partnership, which includes military and government personnel from Australia, Canada, Chile, France, South Korea and the United States, and civilian volunteers from International Relief Teams, Project Hope and University of California San Diego Pre-Dental Society, who are working alongside their local counterparts. The Loloma Foundation and Interplast will accept surgical referrals from embarked medical civic action programs.

The ADF is contributing twelve Australian Army Engineers, a Royal Australian Air Force Dental hygienist and two Royal Australian Navy Landing Craft to the Pacific Partnership mission this year.

U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Pacific Partnership mission, operating this year from USNS Richard E. Byrd, works by, with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. government and international agencies to provide humanitarian assistance in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility.

Pacific Partnership has already visited Samoa and Tonga, where more than 8,000 patients have received basic medical care, and more than 2,000, dental care. Veterinarians have treated more than 300 animals. Numerous engineering projects were completed in those two locations, including a work effort of more than 400-man days in Tonga alone.

The Solomon Islands mission will run for 14 days and will be followed by missions in Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Connect with Pacific Partnership via the mission’s website, which includes social media links.

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