Three officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and a Correctional Services Solomon Islands (CSSI) officer have attended a two-week seminar in Beijing, China, recently.
RSIPF and CSSI Media have attended a seminar on heads of journalist organisations for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, while two officers from the National Crime Prevention Department (NCPD) attended a seminar on poverty reduction.
The lectures presented on different topics, which is similar to our media practices but relevant to their BRI reporting style. The media team also has the privilege to visit a TV station, China Daily newspaper and other media bodies in Beijing and Chongqing province.
Director NCPD, Inspector Steve Sunaone, who attended the seminar on poverty reduction, said, “In terms of crime prevention, the seminar is so significant in the sense that fighting crime without addressing poverty is fighting a losing battle.
Director Sunaone said, “Where there is poverty, crime always thrives. Knowledge acquired from the seminar only fulfils our duties to support communities through community and stakeholder consultation and engagement.”
Inspector Sunaone said, “This would mean that we connect existing gaps or dots by pulling strings together where responsible stakeholders can intervene by employing and deploying relevant resources in support of community needs. In short, eradication of poverty can always support a dramatic decrease in crime.”
Mr Sunaone said, “Generally, poverty is a cross-sectoral issue. It takes a holistic approach which includes all levels of governments, NGOs, faith-based organisations, the private sector, and diplomatic and multilateral cooperation to successfully eradicate poverty.”
CSSI Media Officer, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Davidson Ledi, said he is very happy and proud to represent CSSI and the government of the Solomon Islands and participate in the seminar.
SSgt Ledi said, “As someone who is looking after CSSI Media, the seminar really helps in upskilling knowledge on how to do reporting and the areas of media practices.”
Mr Ledi said, “Thank you to the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) and the Chinese Embassy here in Honiara for coordinating such a programme. Acknowledgement to the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) under the Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China, for facilitating the seminar.”
