Six EOD officers of RSIPF graduated with level 2 IMAS certificate in Honiara

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team has graduated six officers for completing level two of International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) on 28 October 2022 at Hell’s Point, East Honiara.

Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC) National Operations Russel Tagini says, “After so many years now passed since World War II. In the End we were contaminated with a good number of UXOs left behind on the surface, some shallow lay beneath, some under rocks, swamp, only to name a few.”

AC Tagini says, “Recently, members of the RSIPF EOD team conducted multiple UXO operations at Western, Choiseul and Central Islands Province. A lot has been destroyed and still more yet to be destroyed.”

Mr. Tagini says, “With operations such as the US Department of State sponsored nationwide UXO survey beginning sometime in the near future we will need more EOD operators. We will need to build a comprehensive EOD capability in order to support these future operations and with these young graduates will form the core of that capability.”

He says, “Six police constables who graduated with IMAS level 2 certificates are all male. One officer was presented with a merit certificate for dedication and exemplary performance.”

Second In-Charge, EOD Team, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Peter Ririvere during the graduation ceremony says, “This is a significant and timely increase in capability for the team as we prepare for upcoming special event operations. This will also address the ongoing demand of UXO response from our local communities in the country.”

SSgt Ririvere says, “With our ongoing and future projects and operations, these handful of personnel will play vital roles as EOD team leaders. They will demonstrate their technical knowledge and skills learned for the advancement of our EOD strategic goals and objectives.”

A student representative, Police Constable Ralpbell Vadaki acknowledged the trainers for their time to conduct the training for them and he asked the course participants to utilise what they learnt.

Certificates of attainment were presented during the graduation ceremony to the six EOD officers and RSIPF also presented police plaques to the Australian Defense Force (ADF)-EOD instructors who train the RSIPF EOD officers.