BY LIONEL TAORAO
THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) kicked off their operations on Ulawa Island in the Makira/Ulawa Province yesterday, visiting communities on Ulawa to raise awareness.
Rolland Tautaumao, the sector commanding officer for Ulawa/Ugi constituency, says that their first operation is to visit all communities on Ulawa Island to deliver awareness on police roles during the elections and issue the liquor ban notice that will come into effect as of April 16th (today) until April 26th, 2024.
“The purpose of the operations is to visit all the communities around Ulawa Island and give awareness talks to educate citizens of the roles and responsibilities RSIPF will carry out during the election period and also to educate the general public of the election offenses in the electoral act and how people can report any arising election issues to the police,” the sector commander Tautaumao says.
“At the same time, we also issued out the liquor ban notice that will come into effect from April 16th to April 26th,” he adds.
He adds that his team successfully visited all communities on Ulawa Island and says he is satisfied and very happy with the community response towards the awareness. He states that it is important that people are aware of their roles and responsibilities as voters during the election period.
Officer Tautaumao finally calls on the good people of Ulawa Island to participate in this year’s joint elections peacefully and calls on the general public to report to the police any issues that may arise during the election period.
“I would like to call on the good people of Ulawa Island to come out and participate in the elections with a clear and peaceful mind, adhere to the electoral regulations, and at all costs avoid breaching the election regulations as the police will not tolerate such actions during this election,” sector commander Tautaumao appeals.
All election materials for the 2024 joint elections are now secured at the Taheramo police station and are awaiting distribution to polling stations. High visibility of police presence is expected during the polling day around the island of Ulawa to ensure that the elections run smoothly and peacefully.
A total of seven police officers were deployed from Kirakira and Honiara to the Ulawa/Ugi constituency; two were deployed to Ugi Island and five to Ulawa Island to carry out their duties during the elections.
