Thursday 31 January 2008

Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands Acting Special Coordinator, Dr Jonathan Austin, today congratulated the people and government of Nauru on the occasion of their National Day.

Police officers from Nauru are currently serving in the Solomon Islands as members of RAMSI’s Participating Police Force.

Dr Austin wished the Nauru officers well on their National Day and thanked them on behalf of the other 14 contributing countries of the Regional Assistance Mission for their valuable work to help rebuild the Solomon Islands Police Force.

With Nauru’s population of 13,528, their contribution to RAMSI represents an extraordinary act of generosity.

The Nauru Contingent Commander, Starsky Dagagio, said that while the day is a public holiday back home and a joyful occasion for all, there is no better way of commemorating the day than serving for the good of fellow Pacific Island neighbours.

Other Nauru contingent members serving with RAMSI are Dan Botelanga who is based at Lata Police Post and Advisor Jim Halstead based at Kirakira.

Dr Austin said that the experience and cultural background of police members from Nauru enhanced the work of RAMSI’s Participating Police Force capacity development role.

“We are all under one Pacific umbrella. As a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Nauru is sharing its experience and ideas to help strengthen the Solomon Islands and build a safe, prosperous and well-governed country”, he said.

The countries that make up the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.