BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE RSIPF is beefing up its security operation as the country heads into the festive season.

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley said yesterday that there will be a couple of operations running concurrently, especially mounting security on some upcoming events planned for this year’s festivities.

He said police are preparing for the arrival of the Commonwealth Game baton relay which will take place from December 5-7.

Varley added that “Carol in the Islands” is another event everyone looks forward to which will be on December 9.

“Those are some important events we are heading toward and we will make sure plenty police visible around the country as we head into the Christmas period,” he said.

Varley appealed for public cooperation with police so that the festivities are enjoyable for everyone.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley yesterday apologised to the national carrier Solomon Airlines following media condemnation by a disgruntled police officer.

Earlier this week, a police officer made media condemnation of the airline following the refusal of a flight attendant to release a flight list to police, insisting that police follow procedure and write an official letter of request before the list be released.

The officer had alleged that a suspect had evaded police arrest because of this.

However, Commissioner Varley yesterday rebuked the action of his officer, saying that the airline employee had been right in insisting on police following procedure.

He explained that Airline was right not to provide the passenger list to police in the absence of a proper and official report from the police force.

“The point I want to make is as a professional organisation the RSIPF is not in any business of publicly condemning business or communities groups out of frustrations.

“We work very hard with the community, business and other organizations such as Solomon Airlines to have very good cooperation and partnership and indeed we have good relationship with Solomon Airlines.

“I instructed my PPC at Guadalcanal to enquire into the matter further and on behalf of the RSIPF I want to apologize to Solomon Airlines for any offense might have been taken as a result of the media report,” he said.

Police Commissioner said the allegations made by the officer were uncorroborated and unhelpful.

BY BEN BILUA

SOLOMON Islands National Council of Women (NCW) has called on responsible ministries to implement the Family Protection Act immediately.

The National Women Body made call following the report of another brutal killing of a young female last week.

President of NCW Ms Ella Kauhue said the growing discrimination and violent against women and girls require immediate enforcement of the Family Protection Act.

She said domestic violence is not a women issue but a national issue and that the national government through responsible ministries must take active action is mitigating the increasing violence against women and girls.

“From our point of view, violence against women and girls is now a national issues. We have lost many women and girls in the hands of men in recent years and this indicates strong and active measure must take place immediately.

“We believe that implementation of the Family Protection Act is one way forward to address this issue and responsible ministries must start implementing the Act now.

“We must not wait as lots of lives have been taken away by barbaric acts of men,” Ms Kauhue said.

She explained that NCW has limited mandatory power and the only action the organisation can do is to voice women’s issues.

Kauhue said the increasing report of violence against have reached beyond what NCW can do and that requires government ministries to rise up and step on the issues head-on.

She also calls on non-government organisation groups and civil society group who have the resources to rally support together and facilitate initiatives that would address the issue.

Kauhue continues to say that it is time for church leaders, chiefs, church groups, youth groups and women groups to rise up against domestic violence and violence against women and girls.

“Human life is very valuable and together we can address this issue,” she said.

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

SOLOMON Island Government (SIG) sponsored students who have completed their courses of the University of the South Pacific (USP) who have yet to receive the remaining of their allowances will receive theirs in Honiara.

This was a statement by the Minister of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Hon John Dean Kuku, on the floor of Parliament yesterday when queried without notice by the Leader of the Independent Group Hon Dr Derek Sikua on the issue of delayed allowances.

According to the Minister, the Solomon Islands Student Association in Fiji informed the Ministry that they wanted allowances paid into students accounts in Fiji.

“This is because most students have outstanding rent that is still yet to be cleared.

“This includes continuing students and final year students,” the Minister said.

Hon Kuku then told Parliament that students who have completed their courses this year who are still yet to receive the remaining of their delayed allowances will receive them in Honiara and should consult the Ministry.