POLICE constable Edward Suqaqari of Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) of the Police Maritime Division travelled to Australia today to attend a bridge watch keeper officers’ refresher training.
Assistant Commissioner National Operation, Evelyn Thugea said this is a five week course conducted in Australia under the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in Cairns.
Ms Thugea said the course is to refresh qualified personal in the skills and knowledge required to act as a bridge watch keeper on the Guardian Class Patrol Boats (GCPB).
She said the training is to make sure officers working on the GCPB remain competent and safe to conduct their duties on the bridge at sea.
She said due to COVID-19, most training for the patrol boat program in Australia was suspended for the past two years.
The training was previously conducted in Australian Maritime College in Launceston Tasmania and now the training program was moved to TAFE in Cairns, Australia.
The Assistant Commissioner said Mr Suqaqari will be the first RSIPF- Maritime officer to attend this training in TAFE Australia after the suspension was lifted.
“Currently PC Suqaqari is the Chief Bosun mate and assistant officer of the watch on board Royal Solomon Island Vessel (RSIPV) TARO.
“This training is vital for the officer to develop his skills and become a competent officer on the patrol boats. He is really glad to represent Police Maritime in this training and the outcomes of this training will help to maintain our new GCPB,” Ms Thugea said
The RSIPF thanked the Australian government through its Defence Cooperation program in making this training possible for the police maritime officers.
