Communities on Kolombangara Island in Western Province will benefit from a newly built police post at Poitete which was officially handed over to police on 17 April 2018.
Kolombangara Forest Plantation Limited (KFPL) built the new police post.
Representatives of the Western Provincial Government: the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services; the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force; Church representatives, community leaders and members of the public in and around Poitete attended the ceremony.
“Today marked a milestone for policing in Kolombangara Island with the opening of this Police Post. Our thanks to Kolombangara Forest Plantation Limited who assisted a lot in the completion of the building,” says Deputy Commissioner (DC) for Operations, Gabriel Manelusi of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
DC Manelusi adds: “The opening of this new police post highlights the importance of having a strong police presence in Kolombangara Island to provide effective police services to the communities in and around Poitete.”
DC Manelusi and Western Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu received the keys of the Police Post on behalf of the RSIPF Executive from the representative of KFPL Management, Mr. Redley Vaqo and Care taker Premier of Western Province Hon Herrick Rangoso during the opening ceremony.
The opening and the handing over ceremony of the new police post was highlighted by a parade hosted by Police officers from Ringi, Gizo, Noro and Munda. The parade was inspected by the care taker Premier of Western Province Hon Herrick Rangos, followed by a prayer from the Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Poitete.
PPC Lenialu says, “I appeal to members of the communities on Kolombangara Island to assist my officers who will be posted there with general information about alleged crimes in the area and ways of improving effective crime prevention on the Island.”