MINISTRY of Police, National Security and Correctional Service is not aware of the former Special Constables’ claims.
Permanent secretary, Edmund Sikua revealed this after the former special constables followed up on their claims with the government after it paid out $15 million to ex-combatants before the New Year eve last year.
Solomon Star understands about 850 special constables have demanded $100,000 per head from the government for serving the state during the ethnic conflict from 1998-2003.
However, Sikua said he’s not aware of any claims from the special constables.
Secretary to Prime Minister, Joseph Waleneasia said he’s not aware also of the claims.
Furthermore, permanent secretary of Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Justus Denni said currently the government is trying to implement its programmes under the Townsville Peace Agreement.
Mr Denni said they are also meeting with the former ex-combatants ahead of the national reconciliation programme.
Early this year, the former SC regarding the recent $3m allocated for the ex-combatants is that they were all in the same line of duty, which entailed putting their lives at risk for the safety and security of the people and nation, thus they too deserve the same recompense.
“It doesn’t mean I condemn the DCCG’s initiative to pay the ex-combatants. I support the notion, the purpose for this call is for our work to be recognised,” one of the former special constable said.
“By looking at the work we did during the height of the recent ethnic tension, public should understand that we existed legally under the RSIPF to work along the police during the ethnic tension.
“And to prove the legality of our work, we were direct intakes during that time and we’d gone through every procedure in which police personnel goes through before becoming police men/women.
“We took our oaths and pledges to execute our duties faithfully and legally; the same roles the police can be in their work during that time,” the informant said.
The informer added that compared to what the ex-combatants were during the ethnic tension, SCs played a huge role in assisting the police particularly in Honiara keeping public safe and confident despite the horror of the crisis.
“In many occasions we had to confront and nearly lost our lives at the hands of the armed militia, but we had to do our jobs for that was what our duty demanded of us.
“We (SC) assisted the police in taking care of people’s safety, looking after the entire city boundaries from Henderson Police Post to White River Police Post when the armed militias were basically in control with their arms.
“Thus, with all these difficulties we faced in serving the country we feel that the Government should recognise us,” the former SC stated.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
