Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu used a parliamentary address this week to warn that the killing of Police Constable Peniasi Racagi signals a worrying shift in criminal behaviour and a growing disrespect for law and authority in Fiji. Seruiratu said the manner in which the young officer was attacked — in uniform and while on duty — demonstrated “an unprecedented level of boldness by criminal elements within our communities” and must prompt a broader conversation about societal values.
“Growing up, the police uniform and those worn by other disciplined forces was an emblem of authority,” Seruiratu told Parliament. “The alleged attack of the late Police Constable in uniform and while in active duty displayed arrogance and a level of disrespect for the law and authority that should not be tolerated.” He warned that the incident raises concerns about the direction society could be heading and said lawmakers must act to prevent further erosion of respect for public servants.
While stressing the severity of the offence, Seruiratu argued the response should not be limited to enlarging or arming security forces. “The answer is not in arming our security forces, nor is it in increasing their numbers,” he said, calling instead for long-term investment in community rebuilding. He urged reforms beginning with schools and social groupings to restore a culture that values respect and the rule of law.
Seruiratu also used the occasion to reiterate the Opposition’s role in holding the government to account. He said the Opposition should be given special briefings on key national matters and repeated his call for a Parliamentary Select Committee to monitor the government’s performance on critical issues raised in the President’s Address. “This is not about political mileage nor is it about point scoring. We will raise issues and ask questions that need to be asked,” he said.
The opposition leader’s comments are the latest political response to Racagi’s death. Earlier reporting confirmed the 24-year-old officer’s body was found in Lami and that he had been on duty at the Lami Police Station the previous night. Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has said the circumstances surrounding Racagi’s death are under investigation and extended condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer. Details of suspects or motive have not been released publicly as inquiries continue.
Seruiratu’s intervention shifts the conversation from the immediate investigation to broader policy and societal questions, placing pressure on government and parliamentary processes to respond beyond policing tactics. His call for special briefings and a select committee raises the possibility of formal parliamentary scrutiny of how the government addresses public safety, community resilience and the protection of frontline officers as investigators continue to piece together the events that led to Racagi’s death.
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