The high visibility presence of police officers in Noro and Munda, Western Province during last week’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders (PIFL) Retreat in Noro has seen a very peaceful week for the communities.
Residents said, both centres experienced calm and peace throughout the week leading up to the retreat.
Streets were quiet, people went about their business without disturbance, and night-time noise levels were significantly reduced.
However, as soon as members of the Police Response Team (PRT) and the Police Response Unit (PRU) from Honiara and Police Officers based in Gizo returned to their posts following the retreat, the normal situation of disturbances also returns.
“During the Forum retreat, we saw a huge difference. The streets were quiet, no loud noises, no disturbances.
“But as soon as the visiting teams left, everything returned to normal. Loud music and nuisance behavior started again,” one concerned Noro resident told the Solomon Star in an interview.
The resident explained that the strong presence of PRT and PRU officers created a sense of order and respect in the community.
But when responsibility shifted back to the regular police in Noro and Munda, residents felt a drop in the standard of maintaining law and order.
Reports reaching the Solomon Star claimed there is little trust between local communities and the police based in Noro and Munda.
Theres claim there is a lack of cooperation and effective partnership, which has contributed to recurring issues such as late-night disturbances, noise pollution, and public disorder.
“The problem is not new. We have been facing these issues for a long time. What we saw during the retreat proves that with the right leadership and presence, peace can be maintained. But now it feels like we are left to struggle again,” another resident said.
A provincial leader warned that Noro is an industrial growing hub for the Western Province, home to major fishing and shipping operations that support the national economy.
With such economic importance, they believe security presence must be tightened.
“If there is poor police security in an industrial town like Noro, the risks are high. It could lead to rising lawlessness, affect businesses, discourage investors, and even threaten community safety,” the leader stressed.
The leader added, that Noro is a multiculture centre where most of the provinces in the country are living and working.
“So there needs to be more police presence in Noro.”
Meanwhile, community leaders are calling on the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to urgently address these concerns and rebuild trust with the public.
They say people want consistent peace and safety, not just temporary calm during major events.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
