WHILE the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is willing to support another gun amnesty before their actual drawdown it is still a matter for Solomon Islands Government to decide.

Earlier this month RAMSI special coordinator and his deputy briefed the Prime Minister on the challenges posed by the presence of guns still out in the communities and the possibility of another guns amnesty period before the end of RAMSI presence in Solomon Islands.

Responding to questions by this paper as to why RAMSI wanted to conduct another gun amnesty period before drawdown, RAMSI said a weapons amnesty would make sense as part of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force’s Crime Prevention Strategy, which is a commitment by the police to partner with communities to prevent crime before it happens.

RAMSI has been a strong supporter of a guns-free Solomon Islands since being invited to help restore law and order in 2003.

RAMSI said the decision to undertake a second disarmament process and the arrangements that would be put in place are matters for the Solomon Islands Government.

Prime Minister Sogavare has signalled that there is scope to grant another gun amnesty period before the withdrawal of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

In response, RAMSI has said that it would be willing, if asked, to support a Government-led disarmament process.

According to a recent statement from the Prime Minister’s Office it states that during the briefing the Deputy Special Coordinator of RAMSI, Mr Cameron said Solomon Islands has achieved the phenomenal record as the country with the lowest gun crime rate in the world, but added that there is still room for improvement should there be another gun amnesty period before June 2017.

The Prime Minister welcomed the news of the limited rearmament programme and has indicated that there is scope for the granting of another gun amnesty period before the withdrawal of RAMSI.

He said the Government is concerned with the number of illegal guns still out in the communities.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the limited rearmament of the RSIPF is important but the issuing of firearms licenses for private ownership of guns by Solomon Islanders is ‘way down the line’ as Solomon Islanders are still rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the ethnic unrest, the statement said.