Fiji Sun Online, 22nd May 2018
Officials of the US Embassy in Suva have begun assessments on the Koa Moana Project at Saint John’s College at Cawaci on Ovalau, Lomaiviti.
The assessment involves surveying damage caused to the school in the wake of tropical cyclones Josie and Keni. The project was part of the deployment of US Marines and sailors with Task Force Koa Moana in the Asia-Pacific region.
From July 1 to August 1, 2016, the team conducted training with the Seabees from US Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and engineers with the Republic of Fiji Military Force.
They built a one-room building and repaired the roof on the nine-room building during that time.
US Embassy Defence Attaché Commander Constantine Panayiotou said as part of the project, it took the team two weeks to build the one-room building in 2016.
He said the contractors repairing the school asked for physical help and assistance in repairing the roof on the nine-room building, which they offered.
“They asked us for help, but it was not the scope of our project,” he said.