THE Solomon Islands Police Force are well prepared for the upcoming national general election this year, says the Acting Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga.
Matanga said the National Election is one of the biggest events in the country and they want to ensure security is a number one priority.
“RSIPF has done a lot of preparation for this event in particular in training of police officers and in terms of how resources can be used during the election period,” she said.
She said one of the issues raised to the attention of the police is in terms of workforce.
“The RSIPF wants to assure the media and the people that we would utilise our current and existing workforce for the upcoming National General Election,” she said.
Matanga said in doing these, they will have to suspend all the leaves of every officers within the entire force to allow to carry out operation and assist people during the election.
“A lot of community engagement and programs are expected in the coming weeks to inform our people how to behave and conduct themselves during the Campaign period and during the Election of the new government,” she said.
“We are also looking at the crime prevention committees exist in some other areas and still work to also assist police in the time of engagement with them,” she added.
Meanwhile, she said the 2019 election will be without RAMSI and it is a time that all Solomon Islanders should stand together as one nation.
“At the same time, the world will look towards the RSIPF and how we conduct the election focusing on whether we demonstrate our democracy system in this country.
“But let us show to them that we are law abiding people and our country is a peaceful one,” she added.
Matanga said police presence will be visible in all the polling stations and during the counting of ballot papers to ensure people exercise their democratic rights to vote for leaders to represent them in parliament.
By IAN M.KAUKUI