PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Andrew Nihopara on Monday denounced the vandalisation of a plaque at the United States Bloody Ridge World War II Monument.
“This type of behaviour must be condemned by every Solomon Islander in the strongest terms.
“It is unfortunate and rather very disrespectful act by someone with no respect for the country that he or she calls home.
“I hope this kind of attitude is not a common attitude that Solomon islanders have towards state properties. I hope it is just an isolated act by an individual who is on a totally different wave length from the rest of Solomon Islanders,” Mr Nihopara said.
He said a combined effort is needed from surrounding communities to take the responsibility to reprimand the culprits.
“If we see people engage in vandalising the properties of other people or the state, let us take responsibility as law-abiding citizens of our nation Solomon Islands to report them to relevant authorities.
The monument and dedicated to the more than 2500 men who lost their lives on the ridge was unveiled by Prime Manasseh Sogavare last week during the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
The plaque was reported missing over the weekend.
Mr Nihopara reiterated that Bloody Ridge is now a state-owned property and therefore the government is committed to develop the area into a WWII tourist attraction.
“The Declaration of the ridge as a national park means the government has secured the land for that specific purpose,” he said.
By TEDDY KAFO
