SOLOMON ISLANDS HAS NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER

A Police Commissioner has been appointed.

The new Commissioner of Police of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is Frank Prendergast of Australia.

A statement from the Government Communications this morning says, the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui received advice from the Prime Minister of Mr Prendergast’s appointment, yesterday.

His appointment is for two years, and will be effective from the date when he is formally appointed to the role by the Governor General.

Meanwhile, the new Head of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is expected to bring a wealth of policing and management experience to the national police force.

According to the Australian Federal Police website, the new Police Commissioner has been a member of the Australian Federal Police for twenty years, in a variety of geographical and operational areas within the AFP.

Frank Prendergast’s career includes time as the National Manager of AFP’s International Deployment Group which manages deployments to countries such as Afghanistan, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

He has undertaken a diverse range of operational roles including the investigation of fraud, drug narcotic offences, organized crime, corruption and special references.

Mr Prendergast has also had extensive experience in joint operational activity.

He succeeds Peter Aoraunisaka, who was forced to quit last year after he was found to have been over the official retirement age of 55.

At the same time, RAMSI Special Coordinator Justine Braithwaite has welcomed the appointment of Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner, Frank Prendergast to the role of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Commissioner.

In a statement this evening, Ms Braithwaite says she welcomes the Solomon Islands Government’s decision to appoint a new permanent Commissioner, especially as it prepares for the coming national elections, and limited rearmament of the force.

The RAMSI Special Coordinator also paid tribute to the Acting Commissioner Juanita Matanga, saying she showed ‘excellent standard performance’ for more than a year in ‘promoting reform,discipline and increase accountability’ within the Force.

She said Matanga strived for continuous improvement in all parts of the RSIPF, and successfully oversaw a number of large security operations.