Tulagi police conduct an awareness talk during chiefs’ consultation meeting in Central Province

Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Tulagi conducted an awareness talk to about forty chiefs at Tubila village, Sandfly Island, in Central Province on 23 November 2025.

As part of the Crime Prevention Strategy (CPS) rollout programme, police officers raised awareness on the values of chiefs in community settings, their roles in problem-solving and mediation and steps taken by RSIPF to operationalize and review the CPS in Central Province.

The chiefs' meeting was convened to elect tribal head chiefs for each tribe in the Sandfly, Ravu, and Vatilau areas of ward one in the Ngella Islands.

This initiative aims to align with the Central Provincial Government Policy and empower chiefs and Community Policing Committees (CPCs) through provincial ordinances and governance structures, while respecting traditional leadership systems in rural communities.

Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for ward one in Central Province, Honourable Morris Tinoni Mae, said we all cry for developments in our lands but fail due to the missing link. This is the first such meeting in Ngella Island since the Ngella House of Chiefs ceased to function.

MPA Mae said this consultation is to redirect the chiefly system in ward one according to the original Ngella custom settings. It is a revival of what once existed but faded under the influence of Western culture.

“Let us not forget who we are and our responsibilities to our lands and resources. This revival will empower chiefs to have ownership, resolve issues of security, and uphold development benefits,” he said.

The Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Central Province Superintendent David Soakai, acknowledges the work rendered by the MPA for Ward One in addressing the cry of his people.

PPC Soakai said this initiative aligns with the RSIPF CPS currently under review. It is a milestone for Ward One in terms of security and development.

“Appeal to all MPAs and people of Central Province to uphold the importance and values of chiefs in our homes. Police alone cannot meet all security needs, but together we can stand strong—divided, we may fall,” Superintendent Soakai said.