Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, Commissioner for Cooperation in RNP presided over the pass-out in Rubavu District.

The training was conducted by scuba dive trainers from the Carabinieri Scuba Diving Centre in Genoa, Italy under the cooperation framework between RNP and Carabinieri.

The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy.

CP Nshimiyimana said that the training is part of the Rwanda National Police capacity development of officers, including divers.

"These are fruits of cooperation, which is partly aimed at exchange of modern policing knowledge and skills," said CP Nshimiyimana.

RNP and Carabinieri signed a cooperation agreement in 2017 to partner in capacity development, including environmental protection and marine in particular, peace support operations, counter-terrorism, aviation security, public order management, VIP protection, cybercrime, traffic and road safety.

"This is a crucial training in marine operations, which also requires high-tech equipment. More officers will be trained, including a training of trainers," he added.

He reminded the trainees to utilize the acquired skills in ensuring security of water bodies as well as the safety of people in waters and their property.

"You have a duty to protect water bodies and the safety of people using these water bodies; to ensure that the law and regulations are respected, to fight smuggling, illegal cross-border, illegal fishing and other crimes committed in water bodies," CP Nshimiyimana said.

He further urged them to use the equipment well, be disciplined, and to refrain from any form of corruption.

Colonel Francesco Sessa, one of the trainers, thanked the trainees for their discipline and commitment to learn, during the two weeks.

"They were committed to learn throughout the training and they are now professionals with advanced skills in underwater search," said Col. Francesco.

The divers acquired skills in short-range search visual or non-visual methodology (tactile), circular, spiral, transverse, and seine.

Other areas include search diving with transverse, seine, circular and spiral methodology; searchers with bathymetric lines and line to ground methodology; setting metal detector and diving with metal detector; survey and measurements with GPS and video camera; and recovery of an object on the bottom with hydrostatic lifting flask.