A few “rotten apples” have tarnished the reputation of the Fiji Police Force, but Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua emphasizes that the majority of officers are honorable.
Speaking on The Lens@177, Mr. Tikoduadua explained that actions have been taken against those accountable. “Some have been arrested, some taken to court, but the majority of the police is good,” he stated. “Unfortunately, the small rotten apples are the ones that create the impression about any organization, including the police.”
He dismissed rumors that the Counter Narcotics Bureau was convened because police could not be trusted with the job. Mr. Tikoduadua clarified that drugs are a transnational crime and a global issue. “It’s really affected Fiji badly because nothing was done about it. It’s not about the police. The Government has identified the need to have a dedicated authority that looks at narcotics only.”
He explained that the police reset will now address issues within the force but the magnitude of drug-related work led by the Government will follow the Counter Narcotics Strategy. “We need to have a dedicated capability to do it.”
Mr. Tikoduadua also informed the police that this would not duplicate their work, stating that the police are part of the bureau. “They are two different authorities, and certain situations will warrant that the police, because of the information they receive, will act. We will ensure that our work does not conflict but complements each other. Our standard operating procedure will manage that.”
He noted that the $2 million allocation for the bureau’s establishment was a good start, but “not enough.” “More money is nice, but it’s not always the solution. The solution lies in the community to stop drug consumption. If we address that, the bureau becomes irrelevant, but that’s a really big wish.”