New Facility For Law Enforcement Agencies

New Facility For Law Enforcement Agencies At SI/PNG Border

The National Government has opened a new policing center at the international maritime border between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea last Friday.

Minister of Police and National Security, Samuel Manetoali joined Acting Police Commissioner Peter Marshall to open the new Kulitanai Bay Police Station in the Shortland Islands group.

Government spend around SB$3 million on the construction of the facility which started way back in 2007.

The new police station will accommodate police, Immigration, Customs and Quarantine officers manning the SI/PNG border.

Mr Manetoali said the opening of Kulitanai Policing Centre is a big step forward for Solomon Islands in regards to border security.

He said the facility will meet the country's obligations in managing the border between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The successful construction of the new facility came after much discussion over the years about the policing of the border dividing Bougainville, Shortlands and Choiseul and protecting the sovereignty of both countries.

Manetoali said the strategic significance of the new facility cannot be understated.

“The police is fortunate to have secured Kulitanai Bay given its strategic position in relation to the border as well as its capacity as a deep and safe harbor for the police patrol boats and other police vessels,” he said.

Acting Deputy Commissioner, Edmond Sikua said the new facility is a significant policing development that will assist in providing better policing services to Shortland Islands communities.

He further stressed that the location of new facility is crucial for the effective operation of the different law enforcement agencies that are going to be posted there.

The Kulitanai Center had replaced the old Korovou police post.

ENDS

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