CENTRAL Islands Province Premier Michael Salini has acknowledged the ‘collegial friendship’ between Solomon Islands and the United States, dating back to World War II.
Premier Salini conveyed the acknowledgement to the US Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Ann Marie Yastishock when she paid him a courtesy call last Wednesday.
Ambassador Yastishock and her entourage paid a friendly visit to Tulagi, the Islands Provincial Capital where she called on the premier.
Premier Salini acknowledged what he described as the ‘collegial friendship’ between Solomon Islands and the US, highlighting the sacrifices made during the WWII when Tulagi was the seat of the British Protectorate Administration.
He said though subtle to many, the US Government has done a lot for Solomon Islands through bilaterial agreements and multi-lateral arrangements, including the Green Climate Fund to address Climate Change.
Premier Salini took the opportunity to also highlight the province’s challenges in terms of infrastructure development and moreover, the opportunities to tap on, especially in agriculture, fisheries and tourism, which are brimmed by its strategic location to the national capital, Honiara.
Ambassador Yastishock reiterated the longstanding US-SI relations, which date back to the pre-British Protectorate era.
She also welcomed concerns for support and assured that the US government will continue to treasure its relationship with Solomon Islands into the future.
After the courtesy call, the Ambassador and her entourage toured the once ‘battle-ridden’ Tulagi island and visited a number of historical sites.
One of the entourage’s senior officials described the tour as “awesome and breathtaking and the first of many more visits to come.”
After the site visit, the Ambassador and her entourage returned to Honiara in the same fast-craft they boarded to Tulagi earlier that day.
Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock is based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
