RSIPF maritime division and EOD unit celebrate international women’s day

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Maritime Division and RSIPF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit celebrate the hard work of the women within their ranks at a Morning Tea at Maritime Division Headquarters.

The RSIPF Maritime Division has a number of women in key roles ranging from Patrol Vessel Sailors to Staff Sergeants and Leadership Officers, these women constitute almost ten percent of the RSIPF Maritime workforce.

The RSIPF EOD Unit also has a number of women that undertake the important work of Demolition, Unexploded Ordnance Reporting and Disposals. These duties require high levels of training and are conducted both locally in Honiara and in the provinces. Australia is the RSIPF EOD section’s principal partner.

Director of Maritime Division, Chief Superintendent Russel Tagini encouraged female RSIPF officers to join the Maritime Division as it strives to embrace unity.

“We are striving to shift from a male dominated division to one that represents greater gender equality, these cultural shifts can take time but already we can see that the number of women in our division is growing and they are achieving great things,” says Director Tagini.

Lieutenant Commander Kelly Gregg, Maritime Security Advisor to the RSIPF, spoke at the morning tea about her experience in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the unique challenges women face in balancing family and service life and the growing number of women in the RAN.

Australia provides ongoing support to the RSIPF Maritime Division and RSIPF EOD Unit through the Defence Cooperation Program and Pacific Maritime Security Program.