RSIPF E.O.D TEAM ON DIVE TRAINING WITH US NAVY DIVE TEAM

Train to dive, remove and destroy UXOs…EOD and Martime Officers underwent training at Hell’s Point in May. Photo credit: GCU.

A US Navy Dive team is currently training members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team at the Hell’s Point training camp.

The training focuses mainly on underwater clearance of unexploded ordnance and is part of an ongoing program that began three years ago.

A statement from the Government Communication Unit today states, the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services has commended the US Navy for the special underwater training program.

It adds the Permanent Secretary of Police Edmond Sikua expressed gratitude for the US Government for funding the training program which is important to develop underwater capability of the RSIPF for explosive disposal and other aspects of policing.

Mr Sikua says the Government of Solomon Islands believes the program will enhance the underwater capability of the RSIPF not only for explosive disposal activities, but it will assist in other aspects such as underwater investigation.

The Police Permanent Secretary and his Undersecretary Steven Maesiola accompanied the US Consular to Solomon Islands Keithie Saunders to witness a training session at the Hell’s Point facility in East Honiara last Friday.

Meanwhile, the United States is working closely with the Solomon Islands Government to clear thousands of unexploded ordnance that remained from the World War II.

The United States Department’s office of Weapons Removal and Abatement hs funded the American non-profit Golden West Humanitarian Foundation to train the RSIPF EOD team at Hell’s point this month.

As of tomorrow the team will travel on weeklong practical dive training in the waters of Tulagi.