BY LORETTA B MANELE
The “Prosecutor Qualifying Course”, is back after it was first conducted in 2018, eight years ago.
Yesterday a total of 22 police officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) anticipated their first day of the course set for six weeks and expected to be completed later this month on the 25th.
Of the 22 police officers, eight are females and are all ready to participate in the Australian funded course.
Prior to sitting down, anxious for the first day of the course, a small ceremony was held.
Speakers at the ceremony, were Inspector Rodney Wheatney, Director of Police Prosecutions Department, Andrew Kelesi, Director of Public Prosecutions and representing the Australian High Commission, Nicole Smith, Councillor for Governance and Stability.
Inspector Wheatney in his remarks stressed that the Prosecutor Qualifying Course is a direct contribution to building the professional capacity of the country’s police force.
He said prosecution is a very unique and specialised field within RSIPF.
“Unlike lawyers, police prosecutors do not spend years in law school, yet they are required to stand in court every day and perform legal work of the highest standard”, said Wheatney.
Meanwhile, Kelesi, Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the course will teach the officers important roles and responsibilities like how to become a prosecutor, how they should act, how they should manage their files and the expectations of court.
“So, it is very important for all of us to go through this intensive course, because to be a prosecutor is very different from being a lawyer”, he said.
Councillor Smith in her remarks, voiced that Australia is incredibly proud to support RSIPF’s Prosecutors Qualifying Course as part of the Solomon Islands and Australia’s broader partnership.
“We recognise the vital role that prosecutors play in upholding the rule of the law and access to justice for all Solomon Islanders,” she stressed.
Speaking to the paper were two police officers, Ellen Anina from Malaita province and Clifford Mark Sanguh of Guadalcanal province.
Ms Anina said the course is very important for police officers who are interested in working in prosecution.
“From this course we will be able to gain legal knowledge needed while working in the prosecution department and court,” she said.
When asked how she felt about joining the course, Anina explained that at first, she felt nervous but upon learning she would be in class alongside some officers she had worked with and listening to their words of encouragement, she is now more than happy to a part of this course.
Clifford Mark Sanguh from Guadalcanal province is also among the 22 police officers taking the course.
Interestingly, by profession, he is a lawyer but has been working in the police force for 5 years now.
For him, being a part of something like this is a dream.
“As a lawyer, I came to realize that participating more in prosecution work will help me to serve my people better,” he said.
Sanguh highlighted that from this course, he wishes to gain knowledge about advocacy, how to interpret cases in court and sharpen his skills of interpreting law.
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