The security effort has been led by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, but a large part of it has been provided by the police and military which are part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
RAMSI has been in the country since July 2003, providing law and order support and governance.
In fact, its presence, and future, have been part of the debate and commitments made by the country's politicians.
Currently Australian diplomat Graeme Wilson is the mission's Special Co-ordinator, and while Radio Australia’s Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney was in Solomon Islands covering the election, he sat down with Mr Wilson for an extended interview.
Campbell started by asking him to define the mission after seven years:
WILSON: It was very different when RAMSI first came in. Obviously we were in a situation where there had been a lot of civil disorder, where there had been a breakdown in the economy, where services were not really functioning at all well.
So RAMSI came in with quite a sense of specific mandate, a short term mandate which was to restore law and order and to stabilise government finances.
It also had a longer term mandate of trying to help rebuild the national institutions, but clearly in the first stage there was a strong security presence and currently the numbers in that area have reduced particularly the military numbers, but at the moment, yes RAMSI is a blend of police and military and civilians and the numbers fluctuate, but they certainly it is a lot less than when RAMSI first arrived.
On the security front, it is very important to note that the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is taking the lead in terms of management of security.
I think they are doing an excellent job. I think RAMSI is there to support the Royal Solomons Islands Police Force through its assets, through the police and the military and we've done a lot of planning with the RSIPF, a lot of inter operatability exercises and a lot of engagement with the community and I think so far the election management of the security side of the election has gone well.
COONEY: You had the regrettable incident last week of first use of deadly force by a member of the RAMSI security forces, the shooting at Titige, that's obviously something that you no doubt wish didn't happen?
WILSON: Yes, look anytime I think there is a loss of life, it is very regrettable. It's been a difficult situation for all concerned and I have certainly expressed condolences to the family, including through participation in the traditional ceremony that took place on Friday.
Look there is an investigation going. The RSIPF is doing that. It is taking it very seriously. RAMSI is providing its support, so I think we will wait to see what that shows.
COONEY: There at times they have had I would say a fractious relationship with political leaders, previous political leaders. You are in the process of a change of government here and there is no doubt at some stage, a question of an exit strategy for RAMSI is going to come up. I mean is this something that is being addressed or thought about seriously?
WILSON: I think it is very important that RAMSI works constructively with whichever government emerges from the current election and that will certainly be our intention and there are many areas that we still need to work together with the Solomon Islands Government on and that will be done in the context of this partnership framework that I mentioned.
That does actually set out quite clearly what tasks RAMSI has within its mandate, the mandate that was agreed when it first arrived in 2003 and it sets out indicative targets, so there are timeframes, indicative timeframes around a number of these areas of work.
So with this assessment process that is in place, we will be able to see how we are going against those conditions, those milestones if you like and of course once they are achieved, we can say well, that's done or it may be able to be passed to perhaps a bilateral donor.
So it does provide in a sense a flexible mechanism for seeing how RAMSI is going and eventually to enable RAMSI departure from certain areas and perhaps eventually a full departure at the appropriate time when the job is done.
COONEY: If someone in Australia was to ask you well this is a massive commitment on the part of Australia, financial commitment, people, resources commitment and if you were asked by someone there to defend why it's good to have its presence in Solomon Islands, what would you say?
WILSON: Well look, there's no doubt that it is expensive, but I think that goes with providing the sort of support that we have in terms of particularly the security support that we have provided over the years, but that has been essential to maintain law and order and stability and I think for the region, that is what we want to see is a stable environment.
Clearly the country was in great difficulty. This was a decision that was taken by the forum and under the Biketawa declaration and it was and clearly there was a crisis.
The region decided to respond in this way, so it's very much, it's within, it comes under the forum in terms of its mandate and so I think it was something that needed to be done. We had in addition to maintaining that stable environment that has enabled progress to be made.
I think we have been able to assist the Solomon Islands in a way which we hope will be sustainable and therefore we will be able to say to the taxpayer, look this was very much worthwhile.
We now have a country that was on the brink really. It was really facing tremendous difficulties, to one which hopefully can be fully responsible for its future and have a sustainable economic future.
COONEY: The other assistance that your giving on a personal basis is of course Australian Rules, a former South Melbourne player, The Kid I think was the name, is that right?
WILSON: Well, I don't feel like The Kid at the moment.
COONEY: But you've got AFL coaching happening here, the Aus Kick happening, that I suppose would be a bit of a personal victory? I would be surprised if you were coaching Rugby Union put it that way?
WILSON: Oh look, from my perspective, I think the sport can play a really important role in terms of individuals developing there team skills, developing a sense of discipline as well and it doesn't really matter what the sport is.
I am also involved in cricket here and many other RAMSI personnel volunteer their time, whether it be sport or whether it be cultural activity, church you name it. I think that is really important to have that engagement with the community.
But in terms of AFL, it's really quite exciting, because we've had the first Solomon Islander being selected in the South Pacific team just recently played in Australia in a very high level under age national championship and performed very well and has the prospect of being invited back so I am told by the AFL next year, perhaps for a longer stint.
So that sort of thing in creating a sense a sporting model is very, very helpful and for all the 50 or 60 other children that come out each week see that and I think that gives them something to aspire to as well.
So I am really pleased with the way it has gone and obviously for someone who has played the game, it's personally very satisfying to see this develop and the AFL has been very supportive and we hope that this again will be a sustainable activity over the longer term.
COONEY: Your term comes up at the end of this year I think...that's right?
WILSON: Eh, early next year would be.
COONEY: Do you enjoy it?
WILSON: Very much so, so I think it is an extraordinarily challenging role and as you pointed out there are always going to be highs and lows and ups and downs.
That's been the journey has been like that over the seven years. But really I think importantly, we're getting to know each other better. The government of RAMSI. There is a strong sense of mutual trust and respect.
We are very conscious of the need to keep looking at our performance on a critical basis, to work with the Solomon Islands Government closely which we have done, particularly over the couple of years.
I think there has been a number of important developments, but any job that you do has it's challenges. This one more than most that I have had before and I have been in the South Pacific on a number of occasions.
My last overseas posting was as Ambassador to Mexico, a completely different sort of role, but yeah, I really enjoyed it.
I love the Pacific and I love working here, I like the people here and we've had an excellent welcome and developed a lot of friendships, so from a personal point of view, it's also been rewarding, although my family in Australia, so that has probably been the toughest part.
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