EIGHT police officers have been accepted to take up peace keeping mission this year under United Nation.
And Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) will have to finalise the numbers.
Speaking during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing, Deputy Police Commissioner Junita Matanga revealed that eight applicants were approved for this year by the United Nations’ Peace Keeping Mission, but they will have to finalise the actual number, which could be less than eight.
She said RSIPF have other priorities as well, and that is to strengthen domestic security, thus recruitment will depend on their final assessment to see how many would be selected for this year.
She also reiterated of the benefits that the nation reaps under this recruitment program with the UN Peace Keeping Mission.
“Two areas that the country benefits from is remittance and the high level experience our police officers gain at the international level.”
She further revealed that the process of recruiting and deployment in different areas for peace keeping depends on dialogue held between RSIPF representative to UN and the UN Peace Keeping Mission.
Ms Matanga added that local police officers were recruited to join unarmed mission.
She explained that they have to assess certain risk factors before sending local police officers to join arm mission.
“We have five police officers currently serving under the UN mission in Dafur, Sudan, who will return back on September this year.”
Meanwhile, Acting Permanent Secretary (PS) for Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNASCS) Marctus Forau said the biggest achievement of the recruitment under UN is Solomon Islands is contributing to global peace.
“Whether our contribution is big or small its counted,” he boasted.
By AATAI JOHN
