Farewell RAMSI

30/06/2017

The weeklong RAMSI Farewell Celebrations in the capital concluded late yesterday with a grand finale at the Lawson Tama Stadium at which the Heads of the delegations from the Participating countries and Special Coordinators right from 2003 to 2017 received tokens of appreciation by the Solomon Islan...

29/06/2017

Monument to RAMSI unveiled

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Leaders of the 15 countries that contributed to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands hailed the success of the RAMSI partnership during the official unveiling of the RAMSI Monument in the grounds of the Central Police Station in Honiara this morning.

During his opening remarks, Prime Minister Sogavare thanked the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum and paid tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by RAMSI personnel.

Designed by renowned Solomon Islands sculptor, Frank Haiku, the monument was constructed to mark and leave a permanent reminder of the contributions of RAMSI over 14 years to restore law and order, stabilise Solomon Islands' finances and re-start the national institutions following the ‘Tensions’.

The striking monument is ringed by the flags of the 15 RAMSI contributing countries and topped with a white dove of peace in flight, clearly visible to all who pass by its prominent location on the main street of Honiara. In the foreground, the figures of two Solomon Islanders face each other to exchange shell money in a traditional peace ceremony.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Quinton Devlin cut the ribbon with the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, H.E. President Peter Christian from Federated States of Micronesia, Prime Minister Sogavare and Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor.

After the unveiling, the Special Coordinator remarked that “The symbolism of the design sits perfectlywith the spirit of RAMSI. For the last 14 years, RAMSI has sought to provide the time and space for national healing, and the peace dove is it at the centre of the emblem of RAMSI ‘Operation Helpem Fren’.”

The inscription on the monument reads:

“Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)

24 July 2003 – 30 June 2017

In commemoration of the thousands of police, military, civilian advisers and diplomats from 15 Pacific Islands nations that rescued Solomon Islands from lawlessness and reversed the country’s descent towards economic collapse and state failure. Operation Helpem Fren, led by Australia, stopped the violence and rebuilt the nation so that Solomon Islanders could regain control of their country, lives and future. RAMSI returned hope and stability to the Hapi Isles.

This monument was unveiled on the eve of RAMSI’s departure in the presence of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to acknowledge the region’s enormous contribution to the reconstruction of Solomon Islands and as a reminder to future generations of Solomon Islanders that the trauma and mistakes of the past must never be repeated.

“That men should brothers be, make nations see.”

– extract from the National Anthem of Solomon Islands.

The RAMSI monument was unveiled as part of the final day of RAMSI Farewell celebrations.

ENDS.

29/06/2017

28/06/2017

The Prime Minister made the remarks when speaking at the one-day high-level symposium in Honiara today to reflect on the RAMSI intervention and its legacy. The symposium is part of the RAMSI farewell celebration programme this week. The Prime Minister said the RAMSI partnership was based on mutual t...

27/06/2017

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Milner Tozaka today lauded the story of RAMSI as a true Pacific success story that must be shared globally. Minister Tozaka was contributing to the motion moved by Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare for Parliament to look at the joint report by the Solomon Isla...

27/06/2017

Prime Minister  Hon Manasseh Sogavare said the significant achievements  made by the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands reflects the importance of Pacific diplomacy, solidarity and cooperation. The Prime Minister made the remarks when the motion for Parliament to resolve itself into a Co...

26/06/2017

NEW RAMSI EXHIBITION OPENS AT NATIONAL MUSEUM

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Special Coordinator Quinton Devlin today opened a museum wing focused on the RAMSI period (2003-2017) at the National Museum of Solomon Islands in Honiara.

Commissioned by RAMSI, the exhibition records the history of the Mission and the strong partnerships and collaborative efforts of RAMSI and Solomon Islands Government personnel to rebuild the nation following the Tensions.

The colourful displays explain why Solomon Islands invited Australia and 14 other Pacific Islands nations to end the violence and stabilise the country, as well as the tasks asked of RAMSI, and the Mission’s achievements over the last 14 years.

The Opening was attended by senior Solomon Islands Government representatives from over 20 government ministries, agencies and bodies that RAMSI has supported since its arrival in 2003.

“The exhibition is a testament to the many women and men from the Pacific region and Solomon Islands who worked together to rebuild the nation. It is because of these people’s dedication, commitment and hard work that Solomon Islands is now in a position to farewell RAMSI,” said RAMSI Special Coordinator Quinton Devlin.

He added: “The National Museum’s new RAMSI gallery will be a wonderful educational resource. It is important that future generations of Solomon Islanders understand the mistakes and trauma of the past. No one wants to see history repeat itself”.

“I also hope that the exhibition will interest and attract many international visitors, including former RAMSI personnel,” said Mr Devlin.

Historians will undoubtedly look back at the RAMSI period as an important chapter in the modern-day story of Solomon Islands.

The National Museum of Solomon Islands is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm, and from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Photo Caption: Prime Minister Sogavare and the RAMSI Special Coordinator, Mr Devlin opening the museum wing focused on the RAMSI period (2003-2017) at the National Museum of Solomon Islands in Honiara. Photo by Johnson Honimae, RAMSI Public Affairs.

26/06/2017

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs,  Hon Manasseh Maelanga had officially issued and extra-ordinary Gazette for a Special Public Holiday this Thursday 29th June. The Special Public Holiday has been declared in honour of the RAMSI farewell programme which kicked off Monday this we...

26/06/2017

HIGH TURN OUT AT PUBLIC PARADE TO FAREWELL RAMSI

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is humbled by the high turn-out at a public parade in the capital Honiara today (26 June) to farewell the Mission which ends this Friday 30 June 2017.

Several hundred members of the public including groups representing Government Ministries, non-government organisations, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, women’s organisations and RAMSI marched through Honiara as part of the five-day farewell celebrations.

“We were humbled by the high turnout at the public parade this morning which is a clear manifestation of the impact that RAMSI has had on the lives of everyone in Solomon Islands. This is a celebration not only of what the Mission has been able to achieve, but more a celebration of the success of the partnership between the governments and people of Solomon Islands and the 15-member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum,” said Quinton Devlin, the RAMSI Special Coordinator, who also joined the parade.

Mr Devlin said: “Members of the public in Honiara and those who are in town from the provinces are encouraged to join the public events planned for the rest of this week because this is not only about RAMSI but about what everyone has contributed, big or small, to bring back the country’s ‘Hapi Isles’ name from the near ‘failed state’ status before the Mission arrived in 2003.

After 14 years of assistance from RAMSI, the RSIPF is ready to take full responsibility for maintaining law and order and the security of Solomon Islands, but the police cannot do it alone. Law enforcement agencies need the support of everyone in the country.

While RAMSI will end, the Mission’s participating countries will not abandon Solomon Islands. Australia and New Zealand will provide, for example, bilateral policing assistance to the RSIPF from July. Solomon Islands is also finalising a treaty with Australia that would facilitate faster assistance if both nations agreed that help from Australia was required in the case of a natural disaster or other crisis.

25/06/2017

The RAMSI Farewell Parade in Pictures. Pictures by Johnson Honimae, RAMSI Public Affairs.

25/06/2017

It is with great honour, that I take this opportunity on behalf of the Government and the People of Solomon Islands, to thank and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) for its invaluable service to the nation, which concludes this week. RAMSI is...

24/06/2017

96 PACIFIC GUESTS COMING TO HONIARA FOR RAMSI FAREWELL CELEBRATION

A total of 96 guests from the RAMSI participating countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the French Pacific territories of New Caledonia and Tahiti are coming to Honiara for the RAMSI farewell celebration this week.

The guests include two Governors General, three Presidents, one Vice President, three Prime Ministers and one Deputy Prime Minister.

The Governors General are His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove of Australia and His Excellency Sir Lakoba Taeia Italeli of Tuvalu. Both Heads of States will be accompanied by their spouses Lady Lynne and Lady Koling, respectively.

The Presidents are His Excellency Peter Christian of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), His Excellency Taneti Maamau of Kiribati and His Excellency Honourable Baron Divavesi Waqa of Nauru. The Nauru President will also be accompanied by his spouse, Lady Louisa.

The Vice President attending the occasion is Honourable Raynold Oilouch of Palau. Honourable Oilouch is also the Minister of Justice.

The Prime Ministers attending are Honourable Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, Honourable Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva of Tonga and Honourable Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu.

The Deputy Prime Minister attending is the Honourable Paula Bennett of New Zealand. She is also the Minister of Police.

Fiji's delegation will be led by former President, Ratu Epeli Nailitikau whilst the Papua New Guinea delegation will be led by its High Commissioner to Fiji, Her Excellency Lucy Bogari.

Heading the Pacific Islands Forum delegation at the event will be the Secretary General herself, Dame Meg Taylor.

The French Pacific territories of New Caledonia and Tahiti (French Polynesia) are also sending in officials for the occasion.

The guests also include other government dignitaries, apart from police commissioners and officials.

Cook Islands and Niue will be represented by their Police Commissioners, Mr Maara Metua Tetava and Mr Tonyata Edwards, respectively.

All previous RAMSI Special Coordinators are counted in the guest list.

The celebration begins today with an ecumenical service at the Maranatha Hall in East Honiara.

Ends