The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) are continuing with the community consultation on the Government decision for a staged limited rearmament of the RSIPF.
Representatives of the RSIPF, the RAMSI Office of the Special Coordinator (OSC) and Participating Police Force (PPF) held a session with about 100 people, predominantly women, associated with the Seventh Day Adventist Dorcas Federation at the Burns Creek School in East Honiara on Sunday.
During the two-hour consultation RSIPF, RAMSI and PPF officers explained to those gathered that in October 2013, the Solomon Islands Government made the decision to prepare the RSIPF for limited rearmament, and authorised RAMSI to put in place the necessary training, infrastructure, accountability, policy and governance arrangements.
At this time the limited rearmament will only include members of the RSIPF Police Response Team (PRT), the Close Personal Protection Unit (CPP) and a policing presence providing security at the Honiara Henderson International Airport
The project will be implemented in several stages with each stage having to be approved by the Government. The first stage is currently underway with the training being provided with a focus on accountability, by the PPF to the members of the RSIPF.
Extensive community consultation is also being conducted throughout the country during this first stage which will continue through all Provence’s.
Opinions of the community will be collated and provided to the Government prior to progression to Stage 2 of the project upon Government approval.
During the discussions on 2 November, those in attendance raised several issues for the consideration of the Government.
This included issues such as:
- Members of the RSIPF included in the limited rearmament must undergo best practice training in the use of firearms. All stakeholders (the RSIPF, the Ministry of Police, RAMSI and others) agree with this position and all police training is being founded on best practice standards;
- RSIPF must be armed because as a sovereign nation, Solomon Islands needs to protect its borders and people;
- There is a perception by the public that there’s an increase in criminal activities in Solomon Islands but rearmament cannot reduce the crime rate. The problem is in the home. Parents must find time to teach and pray with their children;
- Proper infrastructure including secure armouries must be built and strict rules must be put in place for the issuing and use of firearms by the RSIPF. All stakeholders agree with this suggestion and RAMSI’s PPF are working with the government to develop applicable governance, policies and procedures. Any armoury built will incorporate multi-level security protocols;
- The Government must consider including the provincial centres in the limited rearmament project. The group was advised that at this stage the project is a staged limited rearmament project that will continue for some time. Any decision of progressing beyond the three current identified work groups would be a matter for government consideration at a later time: and
At the end of the two-hour session the group, led by the Seventh Day Adventist Dorcas Federation women, voted unanimously to support the staged limited rearmament of the RSIPF.
The community consultation on the staged limited rearmament of the RSIPF continues in communities in and around Honiara. The consultation will move to the Provinces early next year.
