THREE POLICE units within the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force are confirmed to be rearmed according to the Minister of Police Hon Festus Sofu.
Answering questions raised on the floor of parliament, Sofu said the three units include the Police Response Team (PRT), Police Close Protection Unit and the International Airport Unit.
Hon Sofu, when answering question put forward to him by Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele, said world standard trainings has been and is ongoing for these special units.
He said officers who fail these trainings will not be members of these units that will be rearmed.
Hon Sofu adds that these trainings involved weapon use, self-defence, discipline, and other important matters surrounding the use of firearms.
The Minister told parliament that this was a government request to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to assist the RSIPF for its rearmament.
He said the government and RAMSI will partner to assist the Police Commissioner to finalise accountability and governance rules and systems for the use of these weapons to ensure handling and use of these weapons with care and responsibility.
Adding, all weapons will be kept at the new state of the art armoury facility at the Rover Head Quarters that is expected to officially open in a few weeks’ time.
When asked about the type of arms to be used in this rearmament exercise, on Minister Sofu said there will be three arms used, namely; pistols, police short guns and rifles.
Meanwhile, Hon Sofu said once this is finalised, a paper will be brought to cabinet for approval, and if given the green light, these units and officers involved will be given powers to handle these weapons when the need arises.
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