SEVERAL hundred guests including parents, family members and friends, senior officers of the Government and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force today witnessed the graduation of 69 recruits as new police constables into the Force.
Thirty-five male and 34 female officers representing all the provinces in Solomon Islands graduated from the Mrs Hilda Kari 2017 Recruit Course.
“Today you graduate and become part of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force,” Police Commissioner Matthew Varley told the new graduates.
“I want to urge you all to continue to remind yourself of the Oath of Office that you take today,” he added.
“You held the Holy Bible in your hands when you took the Oath in front of God and your families.
“Do not forget the Oath.
“Continue to reflect on it so that you maintain the standards that the community expects from us all as police officers.
“The Oath empowers you as police constables, giving you the powers to perform police duties according to the law of Solomon Islands.
“There will be times when your integrity will be challenged, when wantok culture will make it difficult for you.
“Remember that you are entrusted to rise above these pressures and uphold the laws of this country.”
Mr Varley thanked parents and members of the families of the new police constables for allowing their daughters or sons to join the RSIPF.
“We call on you to continue to support them, because now the real work of a police officer begins. Their work will demand them to be away from the family at times but I call for your understanding and your full support for these new officers of the Force,” says Mr Varley.
Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Moses Garu, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony says:
“I am pleased that the Police Force has grown dramatically during the past years with the support of the RAMSI Police Participating Force and has gained the confidence of the community since the ethnic tension period.
“The DCC Government is prepared to support the RSIPF to fill up the gap that was left by RAMSI through the provisions of budgetary support to the Force.
“National security is one of our Ministry’s mandated functions and a priority of the DCC Government,” Mr Garu stated.
To the new police officers, Minister Garu said:
“Today you will begin a new journey that will be tough but with the support and cooperation of everyone, you should all enjoy your time in the Force.”
Minister Garu also praised the RSIPF for the gender equality in this year’s recruitment.
“This has highlighted and proved the seriousness of gender equality in the RSIPF.
“I am also pleased to note that during the past years, female officers have significantly improved performance through skills and knowledge gained during the training programs.”
The 69 new constables will now be posted to police stations around the country and serve two years as probationary constables before being confirmed as police constables.
– Source: Police Media Unit
