Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
The Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) endorsed at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Tonga last week needs "national consultation", Solomon Islands prime minister has stressed.
Australia announced it would commit approximately AU$400 million over five years to ensure the programme delivers on the aspirations of Pacific countries.
The Australia-funded initiative - backed by the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) and the Australian Federal Police - is earmarked to reshape the way policing is conducted across the region.
The PPI has three main focus areas, including; regional training centres of excellence to be located in the Pacific; a Pacific Police Support Group which would provide a multinational response capability; and a hub that would help support the establishment and coordination of the regional centres of excellence, and training and support for the Pacific Police Support Group.
Some Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders have raised concerns around whether the PPI is in fact guided by the Pacific.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele told reporters the Tonga summit that his government endorses the policing initiative in principle, but that consultation is needed.
"As a government we agree, we endorse in principle in terms of the Pacific Policing Initiative, and of course, we commend the work of the chiefs of police over the years," he said.
"We also endorse, as part of developing this initiative, the importance of national consultation so that it's owned and driven by countries."
The 51st Conference of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police in Tonga. The theme of the conference is "Our Blue Pacific On the Global Stage". Key regional policing priorities will be discussed as part of the Chiefs collective commitment to building a safer and secure Pacific region. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
The implementation of the initiative is being hashed out at the PICP meeting which has kicked off in Nuku'alofa this week.
"The general understanding [is] they will be working to come up with an implementation plan," Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku said last week.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand was "all in" on the initiative and would be contributing financially towards its $400m cost, according to NZ Herald's report.
"We're all in, we think it's a fantastic idea," he was quoted as saying, downplaying suggestions the proposal was aimed to bar China from gaining a strong foothold in the region.