In an effort to build closer community ties with Fijians, close to 20 US Navy personnel helped clean up the Samabula Senior Citizen’s Home in Suva yesterday.

Team leader of the event, Enlisted Sailor 6 (E6), Jerrica Johnson, said she was proud to be a part of the community relations team.

“We had talks with the Embassy officials and they gave us the idea to visit the Senior Citizen’s Home during our stay,” she said.

“It definitely got all of us very excited and doing all we can to help the community here in Fiji as we wish to build strong community relations with the people.”

She said being a female was never a challenge for her in the Navy.

“I have been in the Navy for the past 10 years and I never felt singled out because of my gender,” she said.

“It is just like any other job where we all work together in unity and help each other.

“I used to get tired of attending school and doing a part-time job, following the same routine every day.

“I wanted to do something that I would be passionate about and here I am for the past 10 years in the Navy and loving it.”

She was born and raised in Georgia, USA and recently visited the country last June for a vacation.

Samabula Senior Citizen’s Home manager Clement Dari said the visit of the US Navy ship was about the exchange of love and culture between the two countries and communities.

Mr Dari said they were grateful to have the Navy officers helping out at the home.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrived yesterday morning at the Port of Suva yesterday and will leave on Monday for Tuvalu.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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