A total of Fifteen (15) Leadership Staffs from leading Border Agencies which includes Eleven (11) Emerging Leaders from the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division’s (SICED) and Two (2) Leading Officers from the Solomon Islands Immigration Division and Biosecurity Solomon Islands) respectively have successfully completed and benefited from the Pacific Leadership Programme (PLP) delivered by the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS).
The Participants received their certificates after having completed the Programme and shared their experience at a Graduation ceremony held on Thursday last week at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
As part of the ongoing shared cooperation and Leadership Training opportunities between these Border Agencies, the Ten-month programme aims to increase Leadership and Management capability in Pacific Border Agencies through a combination of practical and interactive learning initiatives.
Thanks to the New Zealand Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) through the New Zealand Customs Service for their ongoing support to foster this leadership and capability building initiatives across Pacific Border Agencies.
Addressing the participants at the event, Acting Regional Manager for Australia and Pacific at the New Zealand Customs Service Mrs Ella O’Neill highlighted that this is the first time Pacific Leadership Programme (PLP) has been rolled out here in the Solomon Islands.
“Leadership development is an enabling function; by building leadership capability, in which can create leaders that drive innovation and improved performance, enabling increased effectiveness and sustainability of reform and modernisation for border agencies in the Pacific.
“Good border management in the Pacific benefits the security, trade, and flow of people for the whole region.
“Effective Customs, Immigration and Biosecurity administrations are integral to this,” Ms. O’Neil highlighted.
Speaking on behalf of the Participants, SICED National Human Resource Manager (NHRM) Hellen Ha’apisi thanked the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Customs Service in bringing the Leadership program directly to the Solomon Islands.
“Through this Leadership Programme, it equipped and benefit us with the new essential knowledge and skills to help us lead with confidence and purpose, empowering us to better fulfil our shared mission to collect revenue, protect our borders, and serving our nation.
“This Programme has reminded us that true Leadership is about inspiring, empowering and connecting with others,” Ha’apisi explained.
Acting Senior Team Leader at the Noro Port in the Western Province Mrs. Martha Ausolo said prior to participating in the Leadership Training Programme, she did not know what true Leadership is all about.
“But after the training, I have learnt top Leadership skills such as team communication and how to delegate duties to my officers, so that they too can feel to be part of the team.
“Now, we’ve started lots of open discussions with them, enabling them to communicate freely with me as a supervisor and to share their experiences and tasks freely with me, unlike before they were shy and sometimes fear too,” Noro Team Leader Ausolo stressed.
Meanwhile, Principal Immigration Officer Peter Talisman from the Solomon Islands Immigration Division who also attended the Pacific Leadership Programme (PLP) also shared his own experience on what he knew so far from the Training.
“Before the training, I do not know what kind of Leader I am, and what kind of qualities are required there to lead a diverse working group of people. But through this Leadership Programme, I come to realised my full potential of who I am of being a Leader.
“As a Leader, you must be transparent when making decisions, must be honest when discharging duties, and all the decision I made must be fair and transparent to the best interest of my organization in which I lead.
“I benefit a lot from this Leadership Programme gaining new leadership skills and ideas to become a future leader in my own workplace, my community and at home,” Mr. Talisman explained.
Participants started with “Leading Self” as Leadership begins with understanding and leading ourselves first and foremost, Leading Others which emphasized on empowering others to reach their potentials and making a difference since even the smallest changes can make a significant difference. They were urged to focus on transforming knowledge into practical actions, understanding that real leadership is demonstrated through meaning and tangible change as leaders.
Solomon Islands Customs and Excise (SICED), Solomon Islands Immigration Division and Biosecurity Solomon Islands are the only Border Agencies that are responsible for facilitating Trade, collecting of Government’s Revenues and Border Security in the Solomon Islands.
This programme is part of a long running partnership between New Zealand Customs and our Pacific counterparts, funded and supported by the New Zealand Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT).
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Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) Press.
