Five out of seven applicants have been shortlisted to become the new commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
They include locals - acting commissioner, Juanita Matanga, deputy commissioner, Walter Kola, and the Guadalcanal provincial commander, David Diosi.
The other two still in the race are from Australia and Fiji, while two applicants from Britain and New Zealand have been rejected.
The Police and Correctional Services Commission will interview the applicants over the next two weeks.
A panel made up of retired and former senior police officers is to meet in Honiara on Friday to prepare questions for the interviewers.
