Some Final Words

One last run down the dusty roads of Torit and one last sunrise in Africa. This was my daily escape throughout the mission and one that I will not soon forget.

I spent my last few days in Torit packing and trying to take as many photographs as possible so I can remember the place. They through me a nice going away party in Torit and then we had our own Canadian Contingent party in Juba. From the photos below you can see that we celebrated well. I am in Khartoum now going through the checkout process. So far it has been relatively painless. I was excited to leave Torit for Juba because I was on my way home, but the flight 2 days later from Juba to Khartoum felt a little different. It has been an amazing experience here and I am thankful to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for allowing me to partake in this mission. A part of me would like to stay longer, but it is time to go home and get back to some sort of normal life.


I would like to take this moment to thank my contingent for all of their support. Inspector Wayne HANNIMAN, Corporal Wayne PLIMMER, Constable Scott BURGE, Constable Jaskaran PUREWAL, and Constable Charles OBENG. I enjoyed being in the mission with you and I am very proud of our entire contingent. We were a good team and we each did our part in this mission setting a high standard for other Canadians to follow and continue our work here. We led by example for others in the mission to follow. We also left our mark with the local people, especially Corporal Wayne PLIMMER who, without making a second thought, jumped into a lake to recover the body of a young boy who had drowned so that the family would be able to give him a proper burial. He did this when the local authorities were not willing to act. I am honoured to have served with all of you.

On behalf of myself and my fellow contingent members, I would also like to say a special thanks to our Contingent Commander, Inspector Wayne HANNIMAN. We could not have asked for a better leader in this mission. You took on the fight not only for your contingent in times of need, but also for those international UNPOLS who had the pleasure of working for you while in the mission. I know that you will not only be missed by us, but by those who you worked in the mission. Your efforts in this mission were very much appreciated and will not be forgotten. Thank you Sir.

I would also like to thank my colleagues, friends and family for their support while I have been in the mission. Whether it was a message on this blog, a pin message on my blackberry, an email, a brief phone call, or a second hand hello, it was very much appreciated.

A special thanks as well to my habibi at home who ventured with me into unkown circumstances when I joined this mission and who has been a great support from the beginning right until the end. You endured hardship to be left alone at home, but you also shared in my hardships in this mission and were always willing to listen to the difficulties I was being faced with and providing advice when you could. Thank you very much Amanda.

These are my final words. After today I will not be adding anything to this blog. I hope that everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing about my experiences. I hope you enjoy these last few photos. Thank you again and goodbye. May there be continued peace for Sudan.

Cheers,

Rory Goncalves

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) One last sunrise run in Torit, 2) Mary my driving student and stand in mom, 3) Local kids, 4) Pelicans, 5) Torit boy, 6) local Latuko tribal people, 7) School teacher with her students)

SSPS Graduation

My final weeks in Torit have been busy. We had the SSPS Basic Police Training course on going for 3 months and it finally came to a close. In this Basic Police Training course we try to enlighten the SSPS on their role as police covering several different topics in policing at an accepted international standard. This is not always easy. Alot of these people are, as they say themselves, "straight from the jungle" with no education whatsoever. My training officers did well and the best they could given the circumstances.

As the Basic Police Training course was coming to a an end, I received a call that a delegation from UNMIS main headquarters wanted to come to Torit for the graduation ceremony. So my team and I went to work and were able to organize a formal graduation ceremony in about a week. We had high ranking officials from the SSPS, the state government, and UNMIS main headquarters attend. Everything went off well and the graduation was a success. After the ceremony, we played a football match versus the graduates. We lost horribly, but the locals enjoyed the entertainment.

After it was all said and done, it was time to plan one last Long Range Patrol. I sent a team of 9 UNPOLS to a place called Kapoeta approximately 5 hours drive away towards the border of Kenya for 6 days. They were a little leary about going. We have had a lot of violent cattle raids in the area, but we have no choice. We needed to go as it has been over a year since any UNPOLS have been to this place. This was most of my team that was going except for 2 and the last time I would see them. I got up early the morning of the patrol to make sure everything was in line and to see them off. I would be leaving Torit before their return to start my checkout. I stood at the gate to our compound and waved them one last goodbye as they left for the patrol.

I have now packed all of my things and have 2 more days before I fly out of Torit to begin my check out process. First Juba for 2 days, then Khartoum for 7 before flying back to Canada.

Cheers,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Physical Training with the SSPS recruits, 2, 3, & 4) SSPS graduation drill presentation, 4)The State Police Commissioner Brigadier Joseph NATIO, Brigadier General Jackson ELIA, RHQ Training Coordinator Sam ORJI (Nigeria), and me watching the drill presentation, 5) Address to the Graduating Class, 6 & 7) A final salute, 8) SSPS versus UNPOL...hey is that Cristiano Ronaldo out there?)