Four officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Darfur, Sudan have been awarded medals in recognition of their service to the United Nation African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) during a medal presentation at the Mission’s headquarter in Elfasher on 11 July 2018.
The four officers include Staff Sergeant Tex Tafoa, Sergeant Paul Kalea and Police Constables Gregory Kisina and Joseph Poleita.
Solomon Island Contingent Commander Staff Sergeant Tafoa says, “We are proud to receive such an achievement and recognition from such an international peace keeping body. It motivates us to continue on bringing peace and stability to the people of Darfur, despite the challenges we face during our mission”
Mr Tafoa says, “The RSIPF with its four officers is one of three Pacific island countries serving in the UNAMID who received medals for their services. The other countries are Fiji with 18 officers and Samoa with six officers.”
Commander Tafoa adds: “The 28 officers were congratulated by the guest of honour at the ceremony, the UNAMID Police Commissioner Ms Pricilla Makotose.”
Mr Tafoa says, “The UNAMID Police Commissioner urged all contingent commanders to pass her thanks to the Government and Police services of the three contributing countries.”
The four RSIPF officers who received medals are members of the second contingent from Solomon Islands to UNAMID. They joined the Mission late last year. A third group of three RSIPF officers recently left Honiara to join the UNAMID. The first group of RSIPF officers joined UNAMID in August 2016 and returned in September 2017.