“Police is independent of Politics”- Commissioner Varley

Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Matthew Varley has reinforced the independence of the police in the election of Prime Minister to be held on 24 April 2019.

He made this statement during his weekly media conference at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara on 18 April 2019.

Commissioner Varley says, “You will see a very large police presence on the roads of Honiara 24 hours a day doing checks and monitoring the security situation across the capital city and Guadalcanal until the result of the election is announced.”

“My appeal to people is that security of this country and Honiara is really in your hands, it’s really up to the people of this nation. I believe that people will want to see a peaceful result and that’s what I am hoping for.”

Commissioner Varley adds:

“I want to repeat here that police are independent of politics. It is not our job to get involved in the middle of who wins and who loses and who should vote for who. Our job is to uphold the law and to make sure that peace prevails.”

“For those people in the communities who are still wondering about the role that the police will play in the election of the Prime Minister let me make it clear that it is one of independent and impartiality. We work towards the security and stability of Solomon Islands. We have confidence that the election of the Prime Minister next Wednesday 24 April will pass peacefully,” says Commissioner Varley.

There will be a large police presence in the streets of Honiara in the coming days as officers monitor the security situation, check the traffic and conduct awareness at markets, bus stops, along the streets, churches and settlements in and around the capital.