Home Local News RSIPF & Japan sign $6.2m UXO funding assistance

RSIPF & Japan sign $6.2m UXO funding assistance

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Front left OIC EOD Inspector Clifford Tunuki and Japanese Ambassador Ag to Solomon Islands HE Norimasa Yoshida
(Front left) OIC-EOD Inspector Clifford Tunuki and Japanese Ambassador (Ag) to Solomon Islands HE Norimasa Yoshida

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) receives $6.2m UXO support funding after a deal was signed between the Japanese Government this afternoon (15 March 2022) in Honiara.

Officer In-charge (OIC) of the EOD team, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says this support package of more than US seven hundred thousand dollars will boost the capability of the EOD Teams and help them to keep “our citizens safe from risk posed by the World War II remnant.”

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 He said the Unexploded ordnance (UXO) support project in conjunction with the continuous training, advising, mentoring and other support from Australian government will ensure that RSIPF EOD remains capable of dealing with explosive ordnance.”

It will also provide the team with the capacity to increase UXO activities in remote provinces and ultimately assist with supporting the future UXO survey in Solomon Islands, Tunuki said.

He added the UXO support project will also supplement the Solomon Islands whole of government initiative to the UXO problem and will greatly assist with future expansion of the EOD team.

Speaking during the signing, Japanese Acting Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Norimasa Yoshida said he was pleased to sign the contract between the government of Japan and EOD of RSIPF.

Yoshida says, “We will provide equipment such as excavator, vehicles and boats required for the treatment of UXOs. This assistance will enable the EOD team to develop the capacity to deal with residual UXO threats.”

 “Japan is fully aware that UXOs are the important and urgent issues to be addressed and tries to solve it with EOD and other partners such as the United States and Australia closely,” said Yoshida.

Commissioner of Police Mr Mostyn Mangau on behalf of Government, people Solomon Islands and RSIPF express his sincere appreciation to the Government and People of Japan through the Embassy Office here in Honiara for this generous support and assistance to the RSIPF EOD.

“This huge support will help the EOD team to deal with UXO threats that have been happening for quite a long time. I urge the EOD team to look after those assets well for its intended purpose,” Mangau said.

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