History as two female officers leave on UN duty to Sudan
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
MINISTER for Police and National Security Moses Garu says the deployment of two female officers to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan, is an inspiration and motivation for other female officers.
Mr Garu made this sentiment on Thursday at the commissioning and farewell ceremony conducted for the three officers at the Rove Police Headquarters.
“You are truly an inspiration and motivation for other female police officers to work consistently to being accepted for UN deployment overseas in the future,” Mr Garu told the two female officers.
Inspector Agnes Ape from Makira and Isabel and Sergeant Andrea Kierre from Temotu created history for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), being the first female officers to serve in the peacekeeping UN mission in Sudan.
Ms Ape is also the contingent commander of this group.
The two female officers and their male colleague Sergeant Charles Alisineuli from Makira will leave the country this Saturday.
“Your representation of our beloved country for the UN peace mission overseas is indeed a prestigious honour.
“You will be our ambassador in this peace keeping mission Darfur, Sudan, for a deployment period of 12 months,” Mr Garu told the three officers.
He urged them to fly the Solomon Islands flag high, our identity in their international service as police officers.
“I stand here as a proud minister for police representing our Government to acknowledge fact that we are slowly increasing our participation in the UN peacekeeping mission overseas.
“This is a positive achievement and for RSIPF and government as whole.”
Mr Garu said it is the intention of the government that they will continue to support this UN mission as their contribution of International Policing and Service to the international community.
Meanwhile, the Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga said it is the first time for the RSIPF to have female officers included in UN mission.
She also added that is also the first time in history of the police force for a female officer to head the mission.
She congratulated the three officers for successfully meeting all the criteria that were required of them.
“This mission marks another great achievement for Solomon Islands and in particularly to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to be being able to send officers to participate in the UN mission,’” Ms Matanga said.
She said the RSIPF have been part of the UN mission for sometimes because of their own experiences in areas of conflicts and understanding that we have the capacity to contribute towards international expectation.
“With the support and drive by different stakeholders and our government, we were able to fulfil these expectations.
“Though it was challenging, I thanked those who have worked hard to ensure that our officers are ready to deploy.”
Ms Matanga reminded the officers that the RSIPF and the country are expecting them to be our ambassadors in the international level.
“We expect you to fly our national flag higher in the UN mission.
“We do not ask for more or less but we ask you to display professionalism at all times while serving abroad.
“Your journey is yet to begin.”
The families of those three officers were also asked to continue support them so that they can complete their 12 months mission in Sudan.
“To get them to UN mission is not an easy journey for them,” Ms Matanga told family members of the three officers who were present at the ceremony.
“But they proved that they too can do that job as it has been displayed by others.
“As you already aware, these three officers will serve the UN mission for 12 months and being away from home and family members is not an easy time for everyone.”
Ms Matanga added that there will a lot of challenges where family members will face here and so as those officers who will go abroad.
“But in order for them to achieve their mission abroad, it depends very much from family’s support and understanding when they stay away from family.
“The RSIPF will look towards you to continue support them so that they can complete their mission.
The commissioning of these three officers brings the total number of RSIPF officers being deployed under the UN peacekeeping mission overseas to 12.
The three officers are part of the group of four officers who have already left early this year to Sudan.
