Fiji is poised to serve as the official home for the regional policing centres of excellence under the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI). These centres are designed to provide training, assistance, research, best practices, and leadership in specific areas of policing.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced this commitment during his keynote address at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 Pacific Policing Event held in Sagafili Village, Samoa last week. He expressed pride in Fiji’s readiness to host one of these significant centres, emphasizing the nation’s adequate facilities and supportive infrastructure to facilitate such a regional initiative.
The objective of the PPI is to create unified policing measures across the Pacific, structured around three main pillars: Regional Centres of Excellence, a Deployable Police Personnel Support Group (PPSG), and a Coordination Hub located in Brisbane. Mr. Rabuka also highlighted the potential to enhance Australian support for Fiji’s Black Rock training facility in Nadi, which serves multipurpose roles, including training for both military and police personnel, as well as disaster relief efforts.
This initiative represents not only an opportunity for Fiji to strengthen its own capabilities but also to foster regional cooperation and enhance security across the Pacific. The establishment of these centres of excellence could lead to improved policing standards, increased professional development, and a strengthened collective response to security challenges within the region, which is a hopeful and constructive step forward for Pacific nations.
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