Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare Photo: RNZI
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, says the Regional Assistance Mission must help get rid of guns that are still out in communities before its intervention contract ends.
He told the visiting Australian police chief Andrew Colvin there has been relative peace in the country since the Australian-led intervention force arrived more than a decade ago
But he says incidents in which guns have been used confirm firearms are still out there in communities.
Mr Sogavare told Mr Colvin Solomon Islanders are afraid of guns because they had seen what they had done.
He says a major challenge is how to maintain the many achievements of RAMSI and said Honiara and RAMSI must continue to consult even after the mission's withdrawal in 2017.
