RAMSI
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is a partnership between the people and government of Solomon Islands and fifteen countries of the Pacific. RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 at the request of the Solomon Islands Government. Since then, RAMSI has been helping the Solomon Islands lay the foundations for long-term stability, security and prosperity.
RAMSI is now solely a policing mission, working in partnership with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force(RSIPF) to build a modern, effective and independent police force that has the confidence and support of the community. Australia leads the Mission and contributes ninety-five per cent of its funding. RAMSI’s police personnel come from all over the Pacific, with representatives from all Pacific Island Forum members participating in the Mission.
RAMSI Through the Years
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April 2003
Solomon Islands requests urgent assistance from Australia -
June 2003
Australia offers to lead regional assistance mission during talks in Canberra between Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, and Australian Prime Minister, John Howard -
July 2003
Facilitation of International Assistance Act 2003 is passed unanimously by Solomon Islands National Parliament -
July 2003
RAMSI Treaty signed in Townsville by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, as well as senior officials from Solomon Islands and Samoa -
August 2003
21-day firearms amnesty declared -
August 2003
Avu Avu Police Post opened by the Participating Police Force, restoring a police presence on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal for the first time in nearly five years -
August 2003
Harold Keke, a Guadalcanal militant leader, surrenders to RAMSI Special Coordinator, Nick Warner and Commander Participating Police Force, Ben McDevitt -
August 2003
Malaita Eagle Force surrenders arms and ammunition in a peace ceremony in Auki, Malaita -
August 2003
Weapons are destroyed at a ceremony at Marau, south-east of Honiara, to mark the end of the firearms amnesty -
August 2003
Major peace rally fills the streets of Honiara celebrating the nation’s new found peace -
September 2003
Rove Central Prison reopens with the first 12 cells of what is to be a 300-bed high security facility -
October 2003
Exhumations carried out to recover the bodies of murder victims on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal -
November 2003
Marks first 100 days of RAMSI: 3,700 firearms destroyed, 340 arrests, Government finances stabilised and payroll restored -
June 2004
Magistrates Court sits in Temotu Province for the first time in almost eight years with the support of RAMSI -
June 2004
RAMSI Art and Song competitions launched to celebrate ‘a brighter future, a better Solomons’ -
October 2004
RAMSI vehicle shot at on Kukum Highway, Honiara – Participating Police Force officers from Nauru and Tonga narrowly escape serious injury -
December 2004
Adam Dunning, an Australian Participating Police Force officer, is shot dead during a routine patrol in Honiara -
December 2004
Australian Rifle Company Group rapidly deployed to Solomon Islands in response to the death of Adam Dunning, to assist with restoring law and order -
March 2005
Jamie Clark, an Australian member of the Combined Task Force, tragically dies after slipping and falling into an underground cave in the foothills of Central Guadalcanal while searching for hidden weapons caches -
May 2005
Pacific Islands Forum’s Eminent Persons Group commences its review of RAMSI’s impact on the security situation in Solomon Islands -
September 2005
Solomon Islands Civic Education Project launched with the aim of educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities in a democracy -
December 2005
New Foreign Investment Act becomes law, creating a simpler 5-day process for registering as a foreign investor -
April 2006
First National General Election held since RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands -
April 2006
Riots erupt following the election of Prime Minister Snyder Rini; 25 Participating Police Force officers seriously injured; wide-scale luting and burning of Chinese owned businesses over the following two days -
April 2006
In response to a request from Solomon Islands Government, Australia and New Zealand deploy additional military forces to help quell the rioting in Honiara -
April 2006
Snyder Rini resigns as Prime Minister, following the lodgement of a motion of no confidence in the Solomon Islands National Parliament, replaced by Manasseh Sogavare -
May 2006
People’s Survey pilot conducted in selected areas of Honiara, Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western Province and Choiseul -
October 2006
RAMSI Community Outreach Program launches with representatives of RAMSI’s civilian, police and military components visiting communities throughout the country, along with Solomon Island Government counterparts -
October 2006
Niue joins RAMSI, which is now made up of personnel from every country in the Pacific Islands Forum -
April 2007
Pacific Islands Forum Taskforce conduct a preliminary review of RAMSI -
April 2007
RAMSI assists with immediate relief effort after earthquake registering 8.1 on the Richter scale triggered a tsunami striking Western Province; 52 people killed, 900 homes destroyed and thousands left homeless -
August 2007
Institute for Public Administration and Management reopens with RAMSI assistance as a training centre for Solomon Islands public servants -
September 2007
People Survey results show 90 per cent of Solomon Islanders want RAMSI to stay in Solomon Islands -
February 2008
Inaugural Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI meets in Honiara -
March 2008
Inaugural RAMSI Women’s Breakfast held for more than 200 women to mark International Women’s Day -
June 2008
RAMSI apologises for the tragic death of a young Solomon Islander woman in a fatal accident involving a RAMSI vehicle driven by Samoan Participating Police Force officer in Honiara -
August 2008
RAMSI mourns the passing of Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and one of the architects of the Biketawa Declaration under which the Mission was deployed -
September 2008
New Zealand Participating Police Force officer attacked with a bush knife at Avu Avu on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal -
March 2009
RAMSI appoints Gender Adviser to strengthen efforts on gender-issues on behalf of women and men of Solomon Islands -
March 2009
New sound system for the Solomon Islands National Parliament, part-funded by RAMSI, is launched -
April 2009
Partnership Framework between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI endorsed by both parties at the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI. -
May 2009
New women’s CV database, a joint project between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI, launched to increase opportunities for women to be representatives on public boards, councils and commissions in Solomon Islands -
June 2009
RAMSI officials appear before the Solomon Islands National Parliament Foreign Relations Committee as part of their review of RAMSI -
July 2009
RAMSI publishes ‘Soccer in Solomon Islands: A Goalkeeper’s Guide’, written by Solomon Islands’ former national soccer team goalkeeper, Francis Aruwafu, as part of RAMSI’s 6th anniversary celebrations. -
August 2009
Niuean Participating Police Force officer, Sisillah Puleheloto, tragically lost in Tongan ferry incident -
August 2009
Correctional Service staff undergo RAMSI-run training course to allow them to perform core Human Resource functions, such as training, assessment and evaluation of other staff -
August 2009
Solomon Islands National General Elections conducted smoothly without incidents -
August 2009
New Correctional Centre, funded by RAMSI, opened in Auki, Malaita -
September 2009
Solomon Islands’ national futsal team, Kurukuru, play RAMSI in a friendly fundraising match to raise funds to support the Kurukuru team’s trip to the Futsal Confederations Cup -
December 2009
New Code of Conduct launched for the Solomon Islands Public Service with assistance from RAMSI -
March 2010
Being The First: Storis Blong Olokelta Mere lo Solomon Aelan’, the first book on Solomon Islands women leaders launched with RAMSI’s assistance -
March 2010
Detective Inspector Florence Taro, a long-serving Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officer, is awarded Special Coordinator’s Award for Women, recognising her contribution to improving the status of women -
May 2010
New court complex opens in Auki, Malaita, jointly funded by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI -
July 2010
Leadership Code Commission and Ombudsman’s Office move into new shared facilities funded by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI -
August 2010
‘RAMSI: A History in Pictures’ photographic exhibition showcasing the history and achievements of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership opens in Vanuatu -
August 2010
RAMSI assists with the collection and transport of ballot boxes across Guadalcanal and Reef Islands -
August 2010
Fatal shooting of a Solomon Islander on the outskirts of Honiara – first time that the actions of RAMSI personnel operating in the line of duty results in the death of a Solomon Islander -
December 2010
Solomon Islands Government revenue exceeds SBD 1 billion in 2010, first time in the nation’s history -
March 2011
Community worker Mayline Sese Toghoa awarded the Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for her grassroots work with communities -
March 2011
First of 134 new police houses formally handed over to Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers and their families in Honiara by RAMSI -
May 2011
Dovetail Dialogue on RAMSI’s transition held between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI -
May 2011
Leaders from six Pacific nations discuss the planned withdrawal of RAMSI’s military personnel as part of RAMSI during the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI -
June 2011
Achievements of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership feature in an exhibition on peacekeeping at the United Nations Headquarters in New York -
August 2011
RAMSI police withdraw from the first provincial police post as part of transition at Buala, Isabel Province -
November 2011
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Rapid Response Team lead the quelling of a near-riot in Honiara following the election of Gordon Darcy Lilo as Prime Minister -
March 2012
Ruth Liloqula, a career public servant, is awarded the Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for her fearless commitment to transparent and accountable government -
March 2012
The Public Solicitors Office launches three new law books, the first law books to be published in Solomon Islands since independence in 1978, with funding from RAMSI -
April 2012
‘Mere Blong Iumi, Stori Blong Oketa’, a documentary capturing the experiences of Solomon Islands women, produced by RAMSI, airs on local One Television -
April 2012
Gizo Correctional Centre and staff houses officially commence construction -
June 2012
First Gender Audit Report of Correctional Services of Solomon Islands launched in Honiara -
July 2012
RAMSI Participating Police Force officers, in coordination with the Solomon Islands Marine Rescue Coordination Centre, successfully rescued two Dutch sailors stranded at sea near Rennell Island -
August 2012
New Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Buala, Isabel Province -
November 2012
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force receives first equipment under new SBD 7.7 million RSIPF Mobility Plan funded jointly by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI -
November 2012
New Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Gizo, Western Province -
November 2012
Final New Zealand platoon deployed as part of RAMSI’s military contingent leaves Solomon Islands -
December 2012
New Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Henderson, Guadalcanal -
March 2013
Taeasi Sanga, Solomon Islands Clerk to the National Parliament, is awarded with RAMSI Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for services to the National Parliament and the Government -
April 2013
Papua New Guinea Defence Force troops farewelled as the final platoon deployed as part of RAMSI’s military contingent leaves Solomon Islands -
April 2013
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers take control of policing in Shortland Islands, following the withdraw of RAMSI officers from the Lofung Police Post -
May 2013
Australia commits AUD 500 million in its 2013/14 budget to RAMSI, guaranteeing the Mission’s police component another four years in Solomon Islands -
June 2013
RAMSI Development activities shift to Australian and New Zealand aid programs and other development partners as part of transition -
July 2013
RAMSI 10th anniversary -
July 2013
RAMSI military contingent begins its withdrawal as RAMSI becomes a solely policing mission as part of transition -
August 2013
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force begins distributing OC (pepper) spray to several police stations, following large-scale training of officers, to ensure officers have adequate equipment to protect the public and deal with offenders -
October 2013
RAMSI officials and Solomon Islands Government representatives sign the Participating Police Force Drawdown Strategy 2013-17, which outlines RAMSI’s four years of capacity development assistance out to 2017 -
January 2014
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Police Response Team lead the quelling of a civil disturbance following a reggae concert on the outskirts of Honiara -
March 2014
New Police Act, Code of Conduct and Police Regulations come into effect, outlining the powers and responsibilities of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers -
April 2014
Large-scale flooding affects Honiara – RAMSI Participating Police Force and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force work closely together to maintain and promote law, order and security in the weeks following -
April 2014
Additional surge of RAMSI personnel arrive in Solomon Islands to support the RSIPF maintain law and order at Gold Ridge Mine and to assess hazardous materials on site, following a staff evacuation during the 3 April floods -
May 2014
RSIPF deploy, with RAMSI support, to quell a riot in the Renandi area of East Honiara -
July 2014
RSIPF and RAMSI participate in Solomon Islands Trade Expo -
July 2014
Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI celebrate the Mission’s 11th anniversary -
September 2014
Frank Prendergast is sworn in as the new RSIPF Commissioner -
November 2014
Solomon Islands holds peaceful National General Elections -
December 2014
Hon. Mannaseh Sogavare elected as Prime Minister of Solomon Islands -
March 2015
Provincial consultations on the limited staged rearmament of the RSIPF commence -
November 2015
Additional surge of RAMSI personnel arrive in Solomon Islands to support the RSIPF with security for the National General Election
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27 May 2017
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