Fiji’s next Police Commissioner will be a Fijian. This assurance was given in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua after Opposition Member of Parliament Ioane Naivalurua raised concerns about the appointment.
“I would like to assure the honourable member, our new commissioner will be a Fijian,” said Mr. Tikoduadua. “A man in blue, not a man in green or red, nor will he be a foreigner and he will be a policeman or a policewoman.”
Mr. Naivalurua also emphasized that the police reset should not depend on external leadership, stating that the days of dependency were long over.
“Outsourcing mentoring for the Commissioner of Police undermines the potential for local leadership to set and uphold ethical standards rooted in Fiji’s own cultural and societal context,” said Mr. Naivalurua.
Responding to this, Mr. Tikoduadua noted that all good leaders understand the need for assistance.
“The Leader of Opposition and I were mentored by great people in the RFMF and we testify to that by standing here today as well-mentored individuals,” he said. “I would just like to assure that there is no ulterior motive in getting a mentor, and we need help from everyone. Parliament receives help from the UNDP, and that isn’t local, so that’s what we are doing.”
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Graham Leung informed the press that the Constitutional Offices Commission is scheduled to meet this Friday. He mentioned that the post of police commissioner would be advertised once declared vacant, but for now, it remains substantively occupied.
Rusiate Tudravu, one of the candidates rumored for the top job, stated that he would comment once the post is officially advertised.