A COMMUNITY leader in South East Vella La Vella is joining calls for the National Government to look into ways to get rid of the unexploded ordinance (UXO) left from the Second World War in Western Province.
Chite Hemi, who is also the community policing coordinator for Barakoma, said the incident which happened on May 9th in which a young man lost his life from a US 105mm explosive projectile bomb at Lengakiki is reminding the national government to seriously address how to keep its citizens safe from these unexploded ordinance.
“The tragic incident is a huge concern for the people of Vella Island because from stories we heard the Western Solomons is one of the main battle grounds of World War Two.
“It means that we might also reside on areas on top UXO or nearby areas without knowing it,” a concerned Mr. Hemi said.
He said the national government need to identify and properly map areas where heavy fighting was held during the Second World War to check the areas for UXO.
“This is to avoid any tragic incident repeating because our students go to the bush to have picnics and people from the villages also go to the bush to make gardens,” the concerned community leader said.
He told Solomon Star that in the past members of the Australian and US military visited Vonunu School compound and few areas in South East Vella La Vella to dispose the unexploded ordinance.
“We have school and church building projects as well as other projects to start soon but I think we will need the bomb experts to come and check these project sites first before we start anything,” Mr. Hemi said.
It is understood Vella La Vella Island and Shortland Islands are the last battlegrounds fought between US Army and Japan in the 1940s.
Many of the Second World War relics and UXO still remains on the islands today.
By ULUTAH GINA
GIZO NEWS BUREAU
