THE country’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Patteson Oti, yesterday briefed two officers from the Fiji Police force who will be posted here under RAMSI.
The briefing, which focussed on “About Solomon Islands”, took place at the High Commission office in Suva in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Fiji Police and the Director for Training & Education of the Fiji Police, Kuiliniasi Seru Savou.
“Fiji and Solomon Islands relationship transcend the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 28th July 1978,” Mr Oti said.
“It started when missionaries from Fiji travelled to Solomon Islands in the 1900s, and during the deployment of Fijian soldiers during the Guadalcanal campaign during the Second World War in 1943-1944, so this people to people interaction between these two countries goes long way back,” he added.
“We have over 900 tropical islands which comprise two major parallel island chains extending some 1800 kilometres from Shortland Islands in the west to Tikopia in the east, and the common means of transportation to these islands is by boat,” Mr Oti said.
He added Solomon Islands has a small but growing population, which 95% of the population are Christian and predominantly Melanesians with the remainder shared by the Polynesians, Micronesians, Chinese, Europeans and Fijian communities.
Mr Oti thanked the Fijian Government for its continued support through the RAMSI programme and wish the officers a successful service in the Solomon Islands and encourage them to enjoy the friendly hospitality offered by the local communities.
Inspector Imeri Simpson and Sergeant Sekove Saumatiaga will be leaving for Australia on the 11th October to undergo further trainings before their actual posting to Solomon Islands.
