‘Sale of war relics only short-term beneficial’
Solomon Star News - Sunday, November 25, 2007

THE Parliamentary Opposition has expressed concern with the news that war relics on Shortland Islands, Western Province have been sold to foreign buyers.

Leader of Opposition Fred Fono said World War Two relics have attracted visitors to Solomon Islands bringing in with them much needed foreign currencies.

“The visitors will continue to be attracted if the relics remain undisturbed or intact,” Mr Fono said.
He said the government’s decision to sell war remains on Shortland Islands is rather shortsighted.

“I would have thought it would have opted to find money to build war museums in the Western, Central Islands and on Guadalcanal Provinces,” he said.Mr Fono said the provinces and the country would continue to earn money from foreign visitors visiting the war relics while the benefits from their sale are short-term.

“I am surprised that the government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, which wants increase in the number of tourists arriving in the country annually, had decided to sell one of the major attractions,” he said.

Mr Fono said to stop the Sogavare Government from selling war relics from other parts of the country, the Opposition Group will continue with its push to have the Prime Minister to step down.