BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
THE Gizo Police Station has received a major infrastructure boost with the official handover of a brand-new Small Boat Facility, courtesy of the Australian Government.
His Excellency Rod Hilton, Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, led a delegation from the Australian High Commission to Gizo yesterday to officiate the handover ceremony.
Accompanying the Australian team were senior officials from the Solomon Islands Government, including the Minister of Police and the Secretary to the Prime Minister.
In his keynote address, Hilton expressed Australia’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) through both professional development and infrastructure support.
“We are pleased to support Gizo Police Station with this Small Boat Facility. It is one of six similar facilities supported by the Australian Defence Force across the country,” he said.
Hilton explained that the new facility is designed to house small police vessels and protect essential machinery and equipment from the elements, helping officers respond more effectively to maritime and coastal incidents.
“This project reflects our 43-year-long Defence Cooperation Programme with Solomon Islands, which has helped enhance peace and security in the region,” he added.
Hilton said the facility is a product of the strong and ongoing partnership between Australia and Solomon Islands, with a focus on improving infrastructure, maritime and border security, fisheries surveillance, police capability and cyber resilience.
He is confident that the facility will significantly enhance the operational capacity of Gizo Police and enable them to provide more effective services across the Western Province.
Hilton also reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to regional security and cooperation, stating that Australia continues to work closely with countries in the Pacific to build a more stable, secure and resilient region through unity, integrity and collaboration.
The new infrastructure marks another milestone in the enduring bilateral relationship between Solomon Islands and Australia’s and is a key step forward for policing services in Gizo and the broader Western Province.
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