Tuvaluan representative to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), Amuia Aligi, is enjoying the challenge and experience of being in the Solomons.




Being able to tell people that you come from one of the smallest and most remote countries on earth is a source of great pride for Amuia Aligi, one of two representatives to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) from the nation of Tuvalu.
Located half way between Australia and Hawaii, Tuvalu is a country of nine small coral atolls, with a total land area of 26 square kilometres. It has a population of about 11,000 people, with around 4,000 of these living in the capital, Funafuti.
Aligi is serving as Tuvalu’s contingent commander for the RAMSI Participating Police Force and is in the last months of his posting to Solomon Islands. Prior to his deployment, he served as the commanding officer of the Funafuti Police Station, with 25 staff under his supervision.
Upon arriving in Solomon Islands, he initially worked at the Central Police Station in the Solomons capital, Honiara, before being posted to the one of the country’s most remote provinces of Temotu, followed by Tingoa, the capital of the similarly isolated Rennell Island, where he worked as an adviser alongside a New Zealand RAMSI police officer and four local Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers.
Working and living in this remote location was a challenging, but ultimately rewarding, experience for  Aligi, who enthusiastically recalls many of the times he shared with the people of Rennell.
“We were always out and about visiting other villages, talking and playing games, which gave us the opportunity to assist in building strong police and community relationships,” he says.
Importantly, he believes that although he has been working as an adviser to help build the skills of local police, his work as part of RAMSI has been a great learning experience for him too.
“I have learned a lot – working in a big country, with a big population like the Solomons. I have learned a lot about the challenge of it all.”
Along with the challenges of studying Solomon Islands pijin and learning to cook with a wide variety of new vegetables, Aligi says the unpredictable environment of Solomon Islands has provided him with some unexpected experiences.
“One night in Honiara I felt the building and ground shaking—and I couldn’t understand what was happening. I soon realised I wasn’t under attack; I’d just experienced my first earthquake.”
Aligi also believes that one of the strengths of the role of RAMSI is that advisers from many countries across the Pacific share many characteristics, including similar passions and fears. He cites the example of climate change, a concept that Tuvaulans, like many Solomon Islanders, are just beginning to come to terms with.
It is an issue that is close to Aligi’s heart. He and his family love the beaches that surround their home on Namumaga Island in the northern islands of Tuvalu, and the threat of these beaches disappearing in the not-too-distant future is becoming a genuine concern for him and his fellow Tuvaluans.
“I started to learn about climate change in the late 90s, and fortunately people are really talking about it now, which is a good sign.
“We have to worry about it—because you have to start to think about moving your family to somewhere else,” he explains.
“It is a reality for us.”
When he returns to his wife and baby son in Tuvalu, in November, Aligi will take memories of fun and achievement, the ability to speak in the local pidgin language, his new cooking skills, and memories of the many friendships he has made along the way.
He adds that he is excited to tell his family about his stint as a member of the inaugural RAMSI Futsal team, which recently took on the might of the Solomon Islands national indoor soccer (Futsal) team, the Kurukurus, in a friendly fundraising match at Honiara’s Multipurpose Hall. The match was held as a fundraiser for the Solomons’ team, who are the Futsal champions of Oceania, before they took on the might of countries such as Spain, Guatemala and Uruguay at the Confederations Futsal Cup in Libya in October.
Aligi played alongside other RAMSI representatives from Australia and New Zealand, representing Tuvalu with pride.
He proved to be one of the most popular players on the court with the packed hall cheering loudly every time he went near the ball.
“I had a lot of fun! But the Solomon Islanders are a very skilful team and the game was very fast; far too fast for us.
“When I was waiting on the sidelines, I was a little nervous,” Aligi explained. “But then when I came onto the court, I was a little surprised, because the crowd was on my side! They were all cheering for me, which was a great feeling.”
RAMSI Participating Police Force Commander, Wayne Buchhorn, said Aligi and fellow Tuvaluan, RAMSI colleague Tua Tepoga were outstanding ambassadors for their country.
“Amuia and Tua are great representatives for Tuvalu,” Commander Buchhorn said. “The work they are undertaking here in Solomon Islands has been important to building strength and confidence in the local police force—and I extend my thanks to them for the commitment and enthusiasm they