THE Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has reminded beche-de-mer divers throughout the country to consider their safety when diving in the waters where crocodiles were sighted.
This was upon the recent incidences of a crocodile attacked a beche-de-mer diver in the Central Province and similar incident in the Western Province.
Commissioner Mangau made this call during his weekly press conference, Thursday.
Mangau said it is good when the beche-de-mer ban is lifted, but those who dive for beche-de-mer must consider their safety and the safety of their colleague or relatives.
“Life is important and when you know that a situation will endanger your life and your other colleague or relative then do not take the risk of doing it. Because of knowing in parts of our country have an increase number of this creature (crocodile) and it causes high risk to our communities,” Mangau said.
He added safety is paramount important – and when people know that there is a risk awaiting then precaution is much better than cure.
Meanwhile, he said there are several requests from certain communities to distract the crocodiles.
However, he explained police have standard operating procedures to assess those requests. And these standard operating procedures are listed under categories.
“If there is a sighting then it is less priority. If it started to threaten a person then it becomes a medium threat. But if it attacks a human being and that is high risk threat,” Mangau said.
He added said if crocodile attacks a human being and communities requesting police then they will attend to the request.
By ESTHER NURIA
Newsroom, Honiara
