An Australian man named Peter Cowell, who has declared himself an ‘admiral’ despite being twice-bankrupt, attempted to gain support for a fictitious international rescue fleet in Fiji. This revelation has emerged following a meeting with Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was the opposition leader at the time of their encounter in 2022. Cowell, who claims to have raised hundreds of millions in funding for his initiative, has no formal naval experience, having only served occasionally in the Army Reserves.
Cowell’s conceivable rescue operation, labeled IntSAR, which is short for International Sea/Air Rescue, has been presented as a humanitarian endeavor that would involve a fleet of 14 ships. According to Joel, an IntSAR representative who attended the meeting, discussions included the establishment of a base for these ships in Fiji, with the understanding that financial contributions from member nations could be waived if Fiji provided land for headquarters.
The meeting reportedly went well, but it did not lead to any formal commitments. Additionally, Cowell was able to secure a second meeting with the newly elected Prime Minister Rabuka in March 2023. Cowell’s current whereabouts are uncertain, with reports suggesting he might be located in Thailand or Western Australia.
In a contextual backdrop, Australia’s ongoing support for maritime security in the Pacific region, particularly in Fiji, includes the delivery of a new navy vessel, the RFNS Timo, replacing the previously grounded RFNS Puamau. This initiative highlights the positive collaborative relations between Australia and Fiji, aimed at enhancing maritime operations and safety in the region. However, the investigations into the grounding of the RFNS Puamau have raised concerns among the public, with calls for more transparency as questions abound regarding potential contributing factors to the incident.
Despite the frustrations over these investigations, the introduction of the RFNS Timo represents a promising advancement for Fiji’s naval capabilities, signifying continued bilateral collaboration with Australia to bolster maritime security efforts. As Fiji works through its challenges, the hope remains that these partnerships will lead to enhanced safety and accountability within naval operations in the future.
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