Acknowledging Tonga’s national day, Emancipation Day (4 June), RAMSI Special Coordinator James Batley has thanked the Kingdom of Tonga for its strong commitment to helping a neighbour.

Mr Batley said that Tonga has contributed military, police and civilian personnel to the mission.

“The friendship extended to Solomon Islands by the nations of the Pacific including Tonga is greatly appreciated by the people here,” Mr Batley said.

“We thank Tonga for continuing to support the work of RAMSI by contributing some of its best and brightest citizens to the mission.”

Mr Batley said that the current Tongan contingent in the Participating Police Force was due to depart on Thursday 8 June and would be replaced by another group of nine police arriving on the same day. Mr Batley thanked the current contingent, led by (Chief Inspector) Salote Tonga, for their contribution to RAMSI and to Solomon Islands and wished them well as they travelled back to their homes and their families.

Mr Batley noted that Tongan lawyer, Amelia Fasi Pasikala Faasau, had recently joined the Public Solicitor’s Office through RAMSI’s Law and Justice program. With extensive experience in Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa, she would be a significant asset to the Public Solicitor’s Office.

The most recent Tongan military contingent served in Solomon Islands from August to November last year. The next contingent was due to arrive in November this year.