By George Siapu
PM Says Police Force Must Be Competent
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stressed that the Police force must be competent in combating crimes because criminals
are getting smarter whilst crimes and issues that caused insecurity and instability are getting complicated.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony of 29 new police graduates on Friday last week, Mr. Sogavare expressed the need for
everyone to be appreciative of the fact that Solomon Islands is not a group of islands lost in the tropics but rather a
part of the global community.
"Therefore, we must as corporate citizens of this planet play our part in the fight against international crimes and
terrorism," he explained.
The Prime Minister pointed out that we would fail our duty as members of the global community if we neglect this
responsibility.
Mr. Sogavare said that he was pleased to see that the Police force has improved its position from an organization that
exists to provide job opportunities for school dropouts to adopting a more serious recruitment policy that is conscious
of the changing circumstances in the world.
In his words Prime Minister Sogavare added: "This is what I call being responsible and I want to commend the successive
leadership of the Police Force for recognizing this fact."
He challenged the Police Force to move with the changing circumstances and to recruit qualified people in appropriate
discipline into the Force.
Mr. Sogavare drew attention particularly to the fact that important areas of the Police Force like the Special Branch,
Criminal Investigation Department, Forensic Investigation and the Intelligence Services require appropriately qualified
people to be trained for these areas.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was impressed with the content of the course that the new police graduates had worked
through in their 16 weeks at the Police Academy.
He congratulated the 29 police graduates and cautioned them that they must consider themselves as being fortunate and
honored to have completed their training and to be formally accepted as member of the Royal Solomon Islands Police
Force.
ENDS