By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
The Solomon Island people thank the Prime Minister James Marape for the deployment of policemen to Honiara to help quell the riot in November 2021, Solomon Island Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele say.
“The quick decision to send in your policemen in November 2021 when Honiara was burning is very much appreciated. And we would like to thank the families of the police officers for their cooperation while their fathers and mothers were deployed in Honiara. Let me commend the leadership of the Prime Minister James Marape , Foreign Affairs official and Police Commissioner David Manning for responding with spend to deploy security to Solomon Island where they worked together with our neighbors , Australia , New Zealand and Fijian security Forces to quell the riot I Honiara,. Once again I we want to thank the people of Papua New Guinean for rendering their support during the darkest time of Solomon Island.
Mr Manele said that on Thursday during the signing if an agreement signed to formalize the deployment of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) members to Solomon Islands for official policing duties.
And Foreign Affairs Minister Tkatchenko said the signing of the bilateral policing agreement underscores the traditional partnership between both countries. “We have provided on different occasions, police of the Solomon Islands to help them in their security issues over many years. “Even now we have Papua New Guinean police officers in Honiara, Solomon Islands working with their counterparts engaged in security and protecting their country.” “This agreement secures the police-to-police relationships, ensuring that our police can travel freely knowing that we have an agreement between both countries that will protect Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea together.” “Solomon Islands is a traditional partner to PNG through culture and tradition, they are our brothers and sisters and we work together with them for the benefit of security in our Region,” Minister Tkatchenko said
Meanwhile Minister for Internal Security Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr. said the signing was a significant step forward and the government can work in retrospective in putting framework and guidance to continue this work into the future. “Papua New Guinea continues to provide the leadership in the Melanesian family so RPNGC we will continue to have this partnership as Melanesian brothers.” “Our good Foreign Minister Tkatchenko has been active in putting some of the fundamental arrangements and re-establishment of those relationships.” “It now gives us more room to collaborate with our fellow Melanesians in Solomon Islands and we look forward to work together and leverage off in this partnership.” “I feel comfortable that the women and men in the police force can work closely and collaborate accordingly in a framework moving the country forward,” Minister Tsiamalili said. The scope of the Agreement includes deployment of the members of the RPNGC to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in joint operations to maintain law and order within the territory of Solomon Islands, assist in the provision of safety and security of persons and property including provision of humanitarian assistance and disaster response and other such assistance.
