Solomon Islands misses out potential opportunity to host US president.

 

SOLOMON Islands could have begun the next step in getting the new US President to make a brief stopover in Honiara on his way to or from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ summit in neighbouring Papua New Guinea if a proposal to build a World War II Pacific Museum in Honiara had been endorsed by the Government.

Port Moresby has set 12-18 November 2018 for the Summit which brings together world leaders such as the President of the United States, the President of the People’s Republic of China, the Russian President, the German Chancellor and others to the Pacific for the first time.

Government inaction on the World War II Pacific Museum now meant Solomon Islands has missed out on the potential stopover opportunity by the new US President.

The planned stopover in Honiara was contained in a project proposal put together eight years ago to raise money for the construction of the World War II Pacific Museum in Honiara.

The Pacific Museum would be part of what is now the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Panatina Campus in honor of those who fought on Guadalcanal as well as other Pacific Islands during the Second World War. Researchers and students with an interest in World War II could use it as a resource for their research.

Proponents of the project were to collaborate with World War II veterans particularly the US Marines who fought on Guadalcanal and their children to keep the spirit alive.

They were hoping that the project could be completed within eight years coinciding with the APEC summit being held in Port Moresby next year.

Had the necessary approval been granted by the Solomon Islands government back then, the next step would be to convince the White House to schedule a stopover in Honiara during which the World War II Pacific Museum would have been officially opened by the US President either on his way to or from the APEC Summit in November next year.

But the proposal, which requires Solomon Islands Government’s approval, never got to see the light of day.

In Washington this week, one of the individuals involved in the project said Solomon Islands could have been honored with a visit by the President of the United States if the idea was taken up seriously by the Government of Solomon Islands.

“It could have happened, but it is too late now,” he said.

“A World War II Pacific Museum in Honiara could have been the thing to persuade the White House on a stopover in Solomon Islands. As it is, there is nothing for the President to do there so his stopover is being re-routed,” he said.

Meanwhile PNG is finalising plans for the meeting at which up to 10, 000 participants are expected.

Among them will be some 2, 000 internationally accredited journalists from around the world to provide news coverage for the event.

At least three cruise ships are being hired to help local hotels house participants expected to number between 7,000 and 10,000.

The proposed APEC Leaders’ week dates include:

 

• The main APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) for November 18;

 

• The concluding senior officials’ meeting (CSOM)12-13;

 

• Annual ministerial meeting (AMM) 15-16; and

 

• CEO Summit 15-17 and Business Advisory Council 17