Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Deputy Commissioner Edmond Sikua has called on communities on the Weather Coast to cooperate with the handover of full policing responsibilities to the RSIPF.
Deputy Commissioner Sikua was speaking after a rocking incident overnight at the Participating Police Force Isuna police post.
The RAMSI’s PPF facilities at Isuna are due to be handed over this Friday, to the Guadalcanal Provincial Province to be used as a health clinic.
Deputy Commissioner Sikua today appealed to communities in the area to allow a peaceful handover and to cooperate with both the RSIPF and the Provincial Government, as well as with preparations for the handover.
“RSIPF and RAMSI have jointly consulted the National Government, the Provincial Government and the communities directly involved over the decision to withdraw from this post” Mr Sikua said.
“In reality, for some time, the crime trends have shown very little serious criminal activity in the area of the Isuna post” he said.
“It is the view of the RSIPF that our somewhat limited resources are best served in maintaining the two existing RSIPF police stations at Mbabanakira and Avu'avu rather than attempting to match the costly exercise of running a third RSIPF station at Isuna”
Mr Sikua said that he wanted to reassure the communities in the vicinity of Isuna who were largely peace abiding that the RSIPF would not forget their policing needs.
The PPF Commander, Mr Paul Osborne who will attend a traditional chupu ceremony to mark the transfer of the Isuna PPF building to the Provincial Government on Friday said that the RAMSI PPF are working closely with the Provincial authorities to ensure a smooth handover.
“Transition is about recognising that the rebuilding of the RSIPF had made good progress which means that the PPF can safely step back, and the RSIPF can confidently step forward and take responsibility for law and order in Isuna and other provincial police stations” said RAMSI PPF Commander Osborne.