22 July 2004
Ceremonies mark RAMSI down-sizing in the Solomon Islands
Honiara will be alive with ceremony on Saturday 24 July to mark the down-sizing of the military component of the multi national regional assistance mission – RAMSI. 80 New Zealand Defence Force personnel will return home on board an Air Force Boeing 757 on 25 July.
Wing Commander Stuart Brownlie, New Zealand Defence Force’s Senior National Officer in Honiara, says the Defence personnel feel confident they have contributed to putting the Solomon Island’s back on the path to security and stability. “The work we have done together with the other Pacific Island nations has been challenging and very rewarding, and we’re pleased the downsize indicates a step towards a positive future for the Solomon Islands,” he says.
New Zealand’s military commitment of two, three-month deployments of an infantry platoon of 33 people as well as three support personnel will continue until 31 July 2006. The platoon will be rotated around the five troop-contributing countries of New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga. New Zealand will also contribute one officer to the RAMSI headquarters for two years, until 31 July 2006.
The Minister of Defence, Hon. Mark Burton, Secretary of Defence, Graham Fortune, and Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson will attend the celebrations including a Combined Task Force Farewell parade in Honiara.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force flight returns to New Zealand via Fiji to drop 38 Fijian Defence personnel home. The Royal New Zealand Air Force will transport the Tongan contingent home next week.
250 New Zealand Defence Force personnel have contributed to RAMSI since July 2003.
ENDS
For further information please contact Denise Mackay, Defence Public Relations
04 496 0291 or 027 478 5434.
From 7pm on 23 July please contact Denise Mackay on +677 95491 or via the King Solomon Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands, +677 21205
This page was last reviewed 29 September, 2011 and is current.
