RAMSI PREPARING TO TRANSFER POLICING TO RSIPF

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is preparing to transfer the final policing and national security responsibilities to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) before June 2017.

While preparations are underway, mentoring and guidance for police will continue.

RAMSI’s Special Coordinator Mr Quinton Devlin says, 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting, busy and critical one for RAMSI and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).

Meanwhile, a statement says, RAMSI’s withdrawal in 18 months is a testament to the strength of Solomon Islanders and the hard work of the RSIPF.

The statement says, after twelve years both the SIG and RAMSI have confidence that Solomon Islands is ready to stand on its own.

It says, today RAMSI is only a policing assistance mission adding this tighter focus is still not widely understood.

It adds International support for institution building and economic reform has returned to bilateral development partners and primary responsibility rests as it always has with the National Government.