Fiji’s national security system has been found to lack a centralized capability for national intelligence assessment, according to the Fiji National Security and Defence Review Report. The report indicates that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration primarily depends on open sources for strategic intelligence, while its Immigration Department has its own intelligence network.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs manages a diplomatic information network, and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces focuses on military intelligence at both operational and tactical levels. The Fiji Police Force is responsible for gathering and evaluating criminal intelligence, providing domestic security services, while the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service handles customs intelligence.
Although the report acknowledges the benefits of individual agencies managing their distinct intelligence streams, it emphasizes the necessity for strong intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The report points out that Fiji’s intelligence operations are not coordinated through a national body at the government level, creating potential gaps in information flow and impairing the development of a unified response strategy.
To improve national leadership and foster a more coordinated intelligence approach, the government is urged to establish a centralized national intelligence framework that consolidates various intelligence functions. This move would enhance strategic decision-making, improve situational awareness, and ensure that the Prime Minister and Cabinet have access to timely, comprehensive, and actionable intelligence.
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