A two-day national workshop aimed at reviewing the Draft Search and Rescue Bill is taking place in Lami, gathering key agencies to bolster Fiji’s emergency response capabilities across land, sea, and air. The workshop is a crucial element in modernizing Fiji’s search and rescue (SAR) framework to ensure alignment with international standards.
During the opening remarks, Deputy Secretary Operations George Tavo emphasized that search and rescue services are not only a vital lifeline but also a moral obligation for the country. The Draft SAR Bill seeks to harmonize Fiji’s legislation with global conventions, such as the International Maritime Search and Rescue Convention and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), while enhancing inter-agency coordination and institutional capacity.
Chief Executive of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Joeli Cawaki, highlighted the necessity of establishing a national SAR region and stressed that legal frameworks are essential for facilitating prompt and effective rescue operations. He also called for more robust regional cooperation to effectively manage cross-border emergencies.
The workshop’s participants will evaluate the Draft SAR Bill and explore opportunities for integrating SAR efforts within broader national emergency systems, including responses to marine pollution and mass rescue operations. This initiative is led by the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport in collaboration with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, the Ministry of Defence, and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division.
This effort to strengthen Fiji’s emergency response framework significantly contributes to improving disaster resilience, echoing the ongoing commitment seen in previous workshops focused on disaster resilience and emergency management. It demonstrates a proactive approach in ensuring that Fiji is prepared for emergencies, thus assisting not just in saving lives but protecting livelihoods and vital infrastructures.
Overall, this workshop is poised to lay the groundwork for a more efficient and coordinated search and rescue response in Fiji, instilling a sense of hope and collective responsibility among agencies for safeguarding the community in times of need.
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