The Fiji Police Force held a solemn remembrance this weekend for the twenty-six members who passed away over the past year, with ceremonies taking place in Suva, Labasa, and Lautoka. Families of the deceased officers from the Central, Eastern, Southern, and Headquarters Division gathered at the Nasova Police grounds to honor their contributions to the nation.
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew officiated the Fiji Police Force 2024 Remembrance Day for the four policing divisions. He reflected on the bittersweet nature of returning to the starting point of their careers to pay tribute to their fallen comrades, stating, “It is on this ground that we marked the beginning of our careers, and today, we gather to remember our comrades who have left us, and celebrate their memories that will live on forever.”
The Acting Commissioner expressed gratitude to the families, saying, “We thank you for selflessly sharing their time with us. Precious time that can never be recovered, and it is for that reason that we will forever be grateful for your unwavering support towards our careers.” He acknowledged the sacrifices made by families, remarking, “Words and deeds will never be able to replace the countless missed birthdays, the missed milestones, as duty beckoned your loved ones away from home. Some may say that it is part of what we signed up for as police officers. Yes, we did sign up for it, but it is not what you, our families, had signed up for.”
As the organization prepares to mark its 150th Anniversary, the Acting Commissioner noted, “On October 10th, 2024, the Fiji Police Force will commemorate its sesquicentennial celebrations. We have gone through many distinct periods in our nation’s history that have shaped who we are as an organization today.” He emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and learning from the past, stating, “While we cannot afford to constantly look back, wishing and hoping that things were different, we must focus on the present, the today, the now, to see what we can do better, as serving members of the Fiji Police Force. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it, and commit, not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
During the ceremony in Nasova, eighteen members of the organization who lost their lives in the past year were also commemorated.