Kath speaks with Corporal Joe Meto from the Vanuatu Police Force. Joe continues to be a force of positive change through his work in community policing, which draws upon disaster risk management training available in the Pacific.
Joe provides a different perspective on what the role of a facilitator is working in remote areas and with very diverse communities across the islands of Vanuatu. He shares some of the inspiration for the Community Policing initiative, the challenges he has faced and overcome in creating a stronger and more resilient communities.
Joe’s enthusiasm and passion for training is so strong. He thinks big, looks to the future, takes every opportunity, comes up with new ideas and decides how he can use what he learns to best develop others and support the community, and then takes action to make it a reality.
Transcript excerpts:
The background to the CST program – 1:05
In 2019 Corporal Joe Meto of Vanuatu Police Force created a group of volunteers, now called Community Safety Teams (CSTs) to help Police and Chiefs keep peace, harmony and security within the remote Torres Island group of Vanuatu. Since then they have assisted with disaster response, fisheries and conservation, and anything else to make their community a safer place. From this initial group started by Joe, Vanuatu Police Force has expanded Joe’s program across the country, with Joe more recently returning to Torres in 2023 to refresh and grow the original group.
As part of this latest CST initiative, Joe wrote some song lyrics, which were put to music composed by Corporal Harrison from the Vanuatu Mobile Force composed a song about the CST initiative, which I think says so many things about what we are trying to do in the disaster resilience and training space. To quote some of Joe’s lyrics…
With a passion for safety, we took a stand creating CST, together hand in hand.
We’re linking policing, and traditions embrace.
With courage we ventured where others hadn’t been, blending old wisdom with the modern scene.
In every village, in every town, together as one we will stand our ground.
With open hearts and open minds, building a future that safety binds.
Respecting elders and embracing youths, empowering all with the simple truth.
That through unity and harmony we will create a haven safe and free.
Torres CST Graduation performance – https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Oxdn-yBiq6k
Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) – https://gem.spc.int/projects/piema
The Pacific Community – https://spc.int/
Vanuatu Police – https://police.gov.vu/
Example of a community where a program has been established – 10:38
Joe: As a proud instructor, this year I set up 8 sites of community safety teams. And recently I set up another one at the northwest where lots of domestic violence, crimes, lots of crimes are linked. No police officers there. About 4000 plus people there – with no police presence. You can’t get there – its limitation of travelling due to scatter group islands and we don’t have facilities to travel. It’s very expensive. So, it is one of the most important things that disaster training or framework as assistance as helping -You know that something that you’ve given us is not a waste. We deliver it just by changing it. By having some flavours to eat into real policing lifestyle and to take that knowledge with us is now changing the life for good, and mothers are crying of joy because no more problems are now happening in their department, these proper management people are doing like safeties now put in place. The fear of crimes also now reduced.
The challenges of delivering training to remote communities – 16:00
Joe: One of my favourite activities – the practical part. Since we all know that in Vanuatu – in delivering this program to the most remote locations you can lose more experience. And when I’m talking to the most remote area in Vanuatu. And when I am talking about the most remote areas – there are no communication systems. People still uses boats also as the means of transport. We have problems with education – this means no schools.
This group of people are still in what information people custom system. Which means they don’t wear clothes like us… In the custom system – I take them the topic. They break into topics and they do the topics in activities. For example, I will ask them – What would be some of the good characters of a chief? So we will say respect, honesty, Loyalty… These words are English Words. Most of them will not know these words. So we need to use a local to translate these words to local language. And we will perform honest character in own traditional ways. Like in Vanuatu – one of the most respectful character – when we are sitting in groups and mother walks in, she has to drop to ground and crawl to pass by. This is one of the most respected customs.
I am delivering traditional training. You have to have a full time with a local. So when you were teaching the local will intend to transfer your teaching materials to a practical in their own traditional ways. So you will find out that when you test them in scenarios, it is what you expected but in custom ceremony.
It’s about becoming a facilitator. You have to understand where these people are coming from. Don’t change your learning, keep your learning outcome. Keep it, but try some other training techniques.
We have a total of 83 islands (in the north). I have been working with more than 25 islands already. And each island has its own language. Own customs. Own ceremonies. You train them, they become your helpers, your teachers your good friends, assistants. Identify ways to help them sustain the program.
Advice on implementing change programs – 22:26
When you will now try to explore the real world of being a facilitator, someone will come in to put you down, because some people will understand what you are trying to do, some don’t. So they will look for opportunities to put you down.
So you are looking 700 kilometre ahead, they are looking 50 metre In front of you. I advise you to see another 700 kilometre ahead to what you think you’ll do to ensure the best interests of the people. Instead of listening to people that will come and put you down or complain, talk against. Just forget about these workers. Make what you think is right. Look forward and continue the footwork that we are actually doing. The perseverance has to be one of the most important things.
Contact Joe Meto
Via email jmeto@vanuatu.gov.vu
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