Rearming Solomon Islands police

After a ten-year gun amnesty in Solomon Islands, plans are underway to rearm Royal Solomon Island Police. The first stage has been approved by the Solomon Islands’ cabinet, as the government prepares RSIPF for the eventual takeover of the policing role from RAMSI. Commander Paul Osborne of RAMSI’s Participating Police Force says the reintroduction would be ‘limited’. And while the full extent of the plan is being considered, the change does represents a major policy shift for a country still recovering from years of ethnic tension. Prior to RAMSI’s intervention, Solomon Islanders experienced five years of conflict, where ‘police guns were often stolen by militants’.

This article was written by

Kiery Manassah

Kiery Manassah is a journalist and holds a Master of Communication for Social Change from the University of Queensland. He is a former editor of the Vanuatu Daily Post and has worked at the Pacific Institute of Public Policy. Most recently he held the position of Public Relations Officer for the government led by Joe Natuman.

A deeper look at the Vanuatu election

On 22 January 2016 the people of Vanuatu went to the polls to elect the eleventh and most diverse national Parliament. In this post we look more closely at the results, which reveals democracy in Vanuatu is seemingly delivering a kind of micro federalisation. While this is reflective of the reality on the ground, it does not bode well for nation building, and presents a significant challenge for political parties to consolidate or grow their share of the popular vote.
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This short survey, undertaken in partnership with RMIT University, explains the new ‎Global Goals and gives people across the Pacific the chance to rate their relevance and help track progress. The more we know about the goals, the more we can hold our leaders to account to implement them.
Coalition builder

Frustrated with the status quo? Think you can do better? Have you always wanted to build your own parliamentary coalition government? Now you can with our new coalition builder web app!

LESSONS FROM THE EPA

DP01 – A trade deal between the European Union and the Pacific was never going to be easy. Pacific governments need to be wary if they are to secure a good deal.
VANUATU’S ECONOMIC GROWTH

DP10 – Little noticed, economic growth in Vanuatu has accelerated in recent years dispelling the myth that Pacific economies cannot grow.
SMALL CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

DP04 – A new way of looking at small island economies, tailored to their specific needs, should recognise the impact of aid spending and market limitations.