Guadalcanal leaders made a clear stand on RAMSI and police rearmament plans

Provincial and national leaders of Guadalcanal have unanimously supported and requested that the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands remains in the country until it has completed its mandates.

Its mandates are stipulated under the Facilitation Act of 2003.

During a Province Coordinating and Consultative Committee last Friday the eight members of Parliament for Guadalcanal and the 11 members of the Provincial Government Executive agreed and signed a resolution on various matters.

This include the Guadalcanal leaders opposing the re-arming of the Solomon Islands Police.

The leaders also agreed that the review of the Facilitation Act 2003 should make provision for any Provincial Government in Solomon Islands to negotiate with RAMSI to remain within its area of jurisdiction.

They signed the resolution in recognition of the concerns expressed by the people of Guadalcanal Province on those issues.

The Guadalcanal leaders also noted the response by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, to the request by the Guadalcanal Provincial Executive in relation to the issues of RAMSI and re-arming of the Solomon Islands police.

They agreed that there is a need to engage with the Government on such issues of national importance and prominence rather than attempting to create distances.

Source: SIBC