31 Oct 2003

RAMSI vows to stay in Solomons until job completed

4:15 pm on 31 October 2003

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands says it will not leave until its job has been finished.

The mission, also known as RAMSI, has been in Solomon Islands for 100 hundred days and its head, Nick Warner, says more has been achieved than was thought possible.

Karen Brown reports.

"Nick Warner says instability will not return to the Solomons, but he says there is much work still to be done, including rebuilding the public sector and carrying on revamping the Solomon Police. The Deputy Police Commissioner, Ben McDevitt, says under RAMSI there have been more than three arrests a day. He says 25 police officers also have been arrested, and charged with offences, including intimidation, rape, robbery and murder. He says there are police posts in all provinces now and people must come forward with complaints."