The Officer-in-Charge of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat in Port Vila, Jean Pierre Nirua thanked the Acting Vanuatu Police Commissioner, Major Aru Maralau and his senior ranking officers and the Government and People of Vanuatu for spearheading consultations on key outcomes of the MSG Police Commissioner’s Conference.
The one-day consultation by Vanuatu is being held at the VANSEC House in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Nirua also extended the apologies from the Director General of the MSG Secretariat,Peter Forau, who was away on official engagements in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the occasion of the MSG Ministers of Trade Meetings and the 2nd MSG Trade & Investment Roadshow.
OIC of the MSG Secretariat in his opening remarks on Thursday explained that the purpose of this national consultation is to discuss openly and most importantly to advance on some of these key outstanding issues by 2015 which include: the MSG Regional Police Academy (RPA); the MSG Formed Police Unit (FPU); the MSG Memorandum of Agreement on Information Sharing and other important issues that affects the security and law and order of our Melanesian region.
“I wish to reiterate however, that although most of these issues have been discussed and endorsed by our MSG Leaders, we have yet fallen short to progress in their implementation,” emphasized Nirua.
He said it is for this reason that the MSG Secretariat through the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Officer, Erami Raibe have taken the facilitating role to assist the Vanuatu Police Force and other member countries in conducting these national consultations as a way forwarding in identifying solutions to advance on such issues.
OIC of the MSG Secretariat also confirmed to participants in Vanuatu that similar consultations will be held in coming days in the other three MSG capitals of Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby.
Nirua further invited the Police and Senior Government Officials to conduct the consultations in an informal manner in order to encourage open discussions.
“We hope that from these discussions you will gain a better understanding of the PCC issues and be able to effectively contribute towards the implementation phases of the MSG Formed Police Unit (FPU) and MSG Regional Police Academy (RPA),” said Nirua.
He further explained to the participants that the development of the MSG FPU and MSG RPA was mandated by the MSG Leaders for Fiji to take the lead role on the establishment of these two institutions.
“Allow me to resonate that once these institutions are established and functional, the MSG region and in particular the MSG Police Forces and associated stakeholders will greatly benefit in terms of specialized training, deployment of peacekeeping operations and enhancing close police cooperation amongst MSG members, the Pacific and the International community,” Nirua further added.
Nirua also announced the planned hosting of the MSG Police Games and Cultural Programmes by Fiji in 2015.
“During your discussions today we will be presenting to you the concept of the programme and it is anticipated that all MSG members will be present for this important event to show case our talents and present our rich culture and traditions amongst fellow brothers and sisters,” explained the Officer-in-Charge of the MSG Secretariat.
The Vanuatu consultations of key outcomes of the Police Commissioners’ Conference was attended by senior ranking officers of the Vanuatu Police Force and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry and Department of Finance and Economic Management; and the DPKO Officer, Raibe, from the MSG Secretariat.
Source: MSG Secretariat
