R.S.I.P.F PATROL BOAT IN VANUATU ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Patrol Boat is now in Vanuatu to deliver humanitarian assistance.
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast confirms today.
Commissioner Prendergast says the patrol boat is now assisting Vanuatu Government and police in their disaster relief efforts in the aftermaths of Cyclone Pam in the island nation.
Commissioner Prendergast adds while the assistance is crucial, the historical deployment shows a positive development for the RSIPF.
“I can advise that it arrived in Vanuatu yesterday and we’re now assisting the Vanuatu police and government with disaster relief in Vanuatu. I think this is the first time that the RSIPF is deployed to one of our neighbours to assist them in disaster relief so I think it’s a very good sign of the continued development of the RSIPF but also I thing it’s very good that we’re able to help our neighbours, you know in a time like this.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner Prendergast says the assistance is necessary following the recent destruction of Vanuatu patrol boat by Cyclone Pam.
“What Vanuatu actually wanted from us was the use of our patrol boat. Their patrol boat had been washed ashore during the cyclone and is not usable, so our patrol boat will now be used to assist and to move people around Vanuatu and other tasks as required. The initial deployment is for two weeks and we’ll see what the situation is after two weeks.”