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 Welcome to America’s first Virtual Embassy! Over the past decade the world has changed how it does business. The Virtual Embassy of the United States for the Solomon Islands is a 21 st century diplomatic tool which combines old and new approaches to help us strengthen ties between Americans and Solomon Islanders. The Virtual Embassy is much more than just a website. While we do not maintain a building in Honiara, our embassy is “real” and we want you to know how to contact us and how we might serve you.
American officers and staff will visit Honiara frequently and you will feel our presence through the media and through various programs and activities. You will also have access to information and assistance through our U.S. Consular Agency in Honiara. I invite you to communicate with us by telephone, e-mail and fax. Through the live interactive chat feature on this website, we maintain regular “office hours” during which you can communicate directly with our embassy staff on-line.
The Virtual Embassy is also a powerful information tool that helps promote the Solomon Islands as a commercial and tourism destination to American citizens. The power of the Internet and of modern web search technologies mean that the information located on this site can be easily found by Americans with a special interest in your beautiful and historic islands. Similarly, Solomon Islanders can visit our site to find information about applying for a U.S. visa, about U.S. foreign policies, and about life in America. Read More
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Admiral Keating Visits Solomon Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands -- Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command visited the Solomon Islands and meet with senior leaders here, June 25, 2007.
It was Admiral Keating's first visit to the Solomon Islands as the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command. The visit allowed Admiral Keating to receive an update on the post-tsunami recovery and to meet with senior leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest.
As the senior commander of U.S. military air, ground and naval forces in the Pacific and Indian ocean areas, Admiral Keating's responsibilities include oversight of all U.S. military activities, promoting peace and stability in a region encompassing more than 50% of the Earth's surface, traverses 16 time zones and borders 43 countries with approximately 60% of the world's population.
U.S. Pacific Command sent USNS Stockham immediately following the April 07 tsunami to assist in the disaster relief efforts and is scheduled to send USS Peleliu in mid-August to provide additional humanitarian relief support to include medical assistance and engineering projects.
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Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Leslie Rowe
65th Anniversary Battle of Guadalcanal
August 7, 2007 |
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Honorable Prime Minister Sogavare
Brigadier General Toolan
Distinguished Guests
Honored veterans
Sixty-five years ago today thousands of United States troops landed on Guadalcanal. Before that day----August 7, 1942---- most Americans had never heard of Guadalcanal or the Solomon Islands. But soon thereafter, EVERY American would know Guadalcanal, through news reports detailing the bravery and incredible resolve of American and allied troops who joined brave Solomon Islanders to defeat the enemy.
On this beautiful morning overlooking Iron Bottom Sound, it seems almost impossible to comprehend that 7000 American and allied soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen died here. That countless Solomon Islanders, all volunteers from civil society, died here. And that nearly 30,000 Japanese soldiers died here.
We are so fortunate to have with us today a number of U.S. veterans of the Battle of Guadalcanal. You have traveled thousands of miles to be here. You honor us with your presence. And we have a number of Solomon Islanders such as Martin Kafaniro, who fought bravely with the US Marines and was wounded in battle. Mr. Kafaniro will turn 100 years old this month and you also honor us with your presence by being here today. We salute and honor all of you. We also recognize the family of Sergeant Major Jacob Vouza, one of the many scouts and coast watchers who made invaluable and courageous contributions to the war effort. Captured by the enemy and tortured repeatedly, Sergeant Major Souza refused to provide any information to the Japanese. Left for dead, he crawled to US lines, was treated by American doctors and recovered. We commend all of you today and are grateful that we can be together to share this commemoration of Guadalcanal Day.
We gather here today to honor the memory of the brave military and civilians who gave their lives on this island from August 1942 to February 1943. It is fitting that we also take a few minutes to reflect on what they fought for. Why did America, all the way on the other side of the world, join other nations to send its most precious resource----the youth of the nation---into harms way?
America sent its young soldiers here to preserve the opportunity for free societies to exist around the world. They came here because the enemy was a threat to all the features of a free and democratic society. They came here to preserve the systems in which ordinary citizens freely elect their own leaders and schools operate freely, stimulating the creativity and energy of the citizenry. They fought so that people of all faiths could worship as they see fit and live out the values of their faith. They came here to preserve a world in which ordinary citizens could talk freely and openly express their views, even if it is to criticize the very same leaders who they elected. They came here so that newspapers and other media could operate freely, reporting the news as it happens and also editorializing on key issues of the day. They came here so that the rule of law would prosper, so that ordinary citizens as well as their leaders would be accountable to laws governing their conduct.
Americans, other allies and Solomon Islanders fought and died here to preserve the rights of civil society. They came here to preserve the rights of men, women, and youth; the rights of labor, the church, the media, the schools and colleges and universities; and most important, the rights of the most ordinary of citizens---to openly express their views and to work with their elected leaders, who would always remember that the best leaders in a democracy are those who are both leaders and servants of the people they govern.
In short, they came here to fight for democracy. It is well to remember the words of Winston Churchill who said that “…democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others…” Democracy is not always tidy----and often it seems inefficient----but in the end, it is the best system. That is what motivated the thinking of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who as Commander in Chief, sent thousands of American troops to fight against the threat to free and democratic societies.
As we reflect on the events that occurred 65 years ago and celebrate the lives of the brave men of the Battle of Guadalcanal, let all of us gathered here today honor them, by committing ourselves to uphold the precious democratic values and freedoms for which they fought so valiantly.
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U.S assistance to Solomon Islands tsunami
On April 2, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck 345 km northwest of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The resulting tsunami killed 21 people and displaced more than 5,400 others in Western and Choiseul provinces, according to initial estimates of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council (NDC). The Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office reported more than 900 houses destroyed. The island of Gizo in Western Province sustained the worst damage. More than 50,000 people were affected, according to estimates from World Vision, a non-governmental organization that has worked in the Solomon Islands for 25 years. The Government of Solomon Islands declared a state of emergency after initial assessments from the Solomon Islands Police and the NDC.
On April 3, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Leslie V. Rowe declared a disaster due to the effects of the tsunami. In response, OFDA provided $50,000 to World Vision through the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby to address immediate relief needs of the affected populations. OFDA authorized an additional $200,000 for emergency shelter, water, health, and sanitation, provided through humanitarian assistance organizations working in affected areas, in consultation with the OFDA regional office in Bangkok and the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby.
USNS Stockham (T-AK 3017), was deployed to the Solomon Islands to facilitate the U.S. Department of State and non-governmental organizations humanitarian assistance operation to the Solomon Islands. USNS Stockham is one of 16 U.S. Navy Maritime Pre-Positioning Ships and is part of Military Sealift Command’s Pre-Positioning Program and has a mixed crew of U.S. Navy personnel and Merchant Marine seamen (see slide show and captions to learn more about the Stockholm humanitarian mission to the Solomon Islands).
To view Pictures...
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