RSIPF conducts awareness for youth at Kariki in Shortland Islands

Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) deployed to the common border between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea conducted an awareness talk for youth at Kariki in Shortland Islands on 18 May 2020.

Commander of the Police Forward Command Post (PFCP) at the Kulitanai Police Station, in the Shortlands, Western Province Inspector Wilken Miriki says, “The awareness talk was an initiative by the Kariki community for their youth.”

“The topics presented during the awareness included the abuse of alcohol, the Family Protection Act and Cyber Crime. A lot of questions were asked after the presentation. Since Bougainville is next door to us the possibilities for our youth to smuggle marijuana is very high in our communities.”

Inspector Miriki says, “Research has shown that marijuana has serious health effects on anyone who smokes marijuana including higher risk of severe bronchitis, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Lose of concentration, memory and learning abilities are also some of the long term effects.”

“Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in Solomon Islands. This includes the processing, using, growing or selling of the drug. You will be arrested and can be convicted for these offences and face severe penalties.”

“I would like to acknowledge community leaders at Kariki for working close with police for in such awareness programs. Police is here at the border region to provide policing services to our communities in the Shortland Islands. I would also like to thank my officers who worked hard behind the scene to make this program happen,” says Inspector Miriki.