8 July 2008
Soldiers on patrol in Solomon Islands take every opportunity to engage with the locals and help the community wherever they can, says the New Zealand army senior national officer Major Steve Watts.
It is one of the keys to the current peace the island nation is enjoying, he believes.
The New Zealand Defence Force has personnel deployed to the Solomon Islands as part of the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands,(RAMSI). While the contingent is mainly Army, there are also Navy and Air force personnel deployed in support roles.
The current contingent of soldiers, which has been in Solomon Islands for three months, returns at the end of July. While the mission of the army has not changed over the last few years, it has been sometime since there has been a ‘military security’ issue that has required direct military intervention, says Major Watts.
The soldiers are busy however, supporting the Participating Police Force and working with the wider community in Solomon Islands to ensure security is maintained.
“Either walking the streets of the capital Honiara, or mixing with the local in the many villages, there is one consistent message. The locals relate their current peaceful environment to the fact that both Army and Police personnel as part of RAMSI are here. They are very thankful for the work we are doing.
“When they are on patrol they take every opportunity to engage with the locals and if possible assist the community even if it is in only a small way.”
While planning for the deployment of a section of NZ soldiers to the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal, a NZ Police Officer was speaking with a NZ Army Planning Officer about an issue that limited the Police ability to get around due to flood damage. “It was not long before a solution was found that meant our soldiers could assist both the community and police by repairing a damaged culvert.
“What at first seemed a small job turned out to be larger and more difficult then first appreciated, but the soldiers worked with the locals and spent a week repairing and reinforcing the crossing. While on the surface of things it may not seem much, it means both police and locals are now able to use the track. It now means the locals are able to move their produce to other markets and this is expected to see an improvement in the micro economy of the area.”
Other community engagements include school visits in areas that are not normally supported by other organisations due to their remoteness. These engagements usually involve a gift of a small amount of sporting and educational items and spending time interacting with the pupils. Major Watts says Army medic Lance Corporal Libby McMurdo usually travels with the team and treats minor ailments where she can, such as small skin infections. “Without fail, once she starts to treat one person, Libby becomes the centre of attraction and before long has 10 to 50 kids watching what she is doing.”
Twenty soldiers have recently deployed to the Western Province and the Shortland Island area near Bougainville. Over ten days, they conducted both maritime and land patrols in support of both Solomon Islands Police Force and the Participating Police Force. To continue the work of RAMSI and build on the good relationships that already exist, the soldiers visited the villages that are only accessible by sea or by walking.
At the end of the month, the Infantry Platoon will relocate to Rove Prison and complete some security work on the prison.
In recent years the Infantry Platoon on Solomon Islands has comprised mainly Territorial Force soldiers and officers. The current soldiers are from the Northland, Auckland and Hauraki region.