SICTU Raises Concerns over Government’s Defence Force Plans

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The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) has raised serious concerns over the government’s preliminary policy work exploring the establishment of a Solomon Islands Defence Force (SIDF).

SICTU President Tony Kagovai said today, “While we acknowledge the government’s intentions to enhance national sovereignty and self-reliance, we question the merit and timing of such a major undertaking when the foundational security force of our nation—the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)—is being systematically failed by the very same government.”

According to the Minister of Police and National Security, Hon. Jimson Tanangada, the proposed defence force would “fill capability gaps in national maritime surveillance, border protection, disaster response, humanitarian relief, and national emergency support.”

However, Kagovai noted that the RSIPF already operates a Maritime Department that effectively serves as a de facto navy, conducting patrols of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and borders.
“Before committing vast public resources to a new, parallel structure, the government must first justify why the existing capacities within the RSIPF are deemed insufficient and why investment cannot be scaled within the current framework,” he said.

A Question of Priorities

Kagovai said SICTU’s primary concern is not simply one of structure, but of misplaced priorities.
“The government’s ambition for a future military force stands in stark contrast to its current neglect of the police and correctional officers who carry the full burden of our national security,” he stated.

Systematic Silencing of Police Welfare Advocacy

SICTU also expressed concern over what it describes as deliberate interference in police welfare advocacy. The union said the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services has delayed the long-overdue Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Solomon Islands Police Officers Association (SIPOA)—the legitimate voice of RSIPF and Correctional Services members.

Kagovai said that despite approval from the Commissioner of Police, the Ministry’s HR Directorate has continued to stall the process.
“This delay is not an administrative oversight; it is a deliberate strategy to silence the collective voice of police and correctional officers. By preventing SIPOA from convening and electing a board, the Ministry excludes officers from critical discussions about their welfare and working conditions,” he said.
“How can the government speak of long-term nation-building and resilience when it actively suppresses the voices of those on the front line?”

Failure to Uphold the Welfare of Serving Officers

Kagovai said police officers and their families continue to face severe hardship due to the government’s failure to uphold their welfare. The absence of a functioning SIPOA, he said, has left officers without a structured platform to advocate for key issues such as:

• Working Conditions: RSIPF officers perform demanding roles in disaster response, maritime security, and public safety, yet their working conditions and support remain inadequate.

• Remuneration and Benefits: The government’s commitment must be demonstrated through fair salaries and benefits for those serving the nation.

• Mental and Physical Well-being: Officers engaged in national security and emergency response require proper support systems for themselves and their families—systems which are currently lacking.

SICTU’s Call to the Government

1. Address Current Failings First
   “We call on the government to immediately drop its plans for a Solomon Islands Defence Force and instead focus its efforts and resources on fully supporting the RSIPF and Correctional Services,” Kagovai said.
   “The security of Solomon Islands must indeed be ‘owned, led, and sustained by Solomon Islanders,’ and this begins with properly supporting the forces we already have.”

2. End Interference with SIPOA
   SICTU urged the Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services to ensure the Permanent Secretary directs the HR Manager to facilitate the SIPOA AGM without further delay.
   “The rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are fundamental and non-negotiable,” Kagovai emphasized.

3. Commit to a Welfare Dialogue
   SICTU called on the government to publicly commit to good-faith discussions with a duly elected SIPOA board to address all outstanding welfare and working condition issues affecting police and correctional officers.

Kagovai concluded, “The establishment of a defence force can only be a strategic and forward-looking investment if the foundation on which it is built is solid—and that foundation is our police force. To ignore their plight while pursuing a new military project is to build on sand. The government must fix the crisis in police welfare before committing to another formation.”