24 August 2019
Solomon Islands:�� Moving to a safer, stable and more prosperous future.
During his opening address at last week�s National Security Summit in Honiara, the Hon. Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, referred to the events that struck the nation in the late 1990s, saying, �We were caught unprepared.�
The civil uprising we nowadays generally refer to as the �Tensions� was a tragedy that I have referred to in my book �Policing a Clash of Cultures� and the onset of the trouble, which first began in late 1998, was the most disturbing and unhappy period in my 40 years of police service because of the way it affected the Solomon Islands, the �Happy Isle�s�
The consequences of the civil unrest I accurately predicted and reported on in mid 1998� but my early assessment of what would eventuate went unheeded by the Solomon Islands closest regionally partners and the subsequent happenings resulted in the displacement of people, economic loss, loss of life and property and the country being labelled as a failing state.
In the year preceding the events of late 1998, the country successfully hosted the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Honiara and much progress was made with a programme of community policing that succeeded in gaining community acceptance and a lowering in crime figures, especially in and around Honiara.
The community policing concept was very ably supported by the members of the police band to the delight of many in the community that witnessed the band�s performances.
The use of the band signified a softer touch to law enforcement and I believe still plays an important role in the present day community policing operations.
Individual members of the RSIPF can contribute greatly to winning hearts and minds and that seems to be the case with the deployment of police personnel to the western border.
As the Prime Minister said last week, those events of the past must never be repeated and all must ensure to contribute to a safe and prosperous future.
As much as that is true, the reasons for the civil unrest must be addressed, if not yet fully done so, and efforts must continue to be made to bring closure to those who suffered greatly and still grieve from the injustices of those events so long ago.
Lest we forget.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
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