The Kiribati Police Service says that choosing Fiji as the first to establish relations with was the best decision, because Fiji was the hub of the Pacific.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two law enforcement agencies at the Fiji Police Force headquarters in Suva yesterday.

The Commissioner of Police, Bernadus Groenewald, said the agreement would further strengthen bilateral co-operation between the two countries. This is particularly on South/South co-operation initiatives pursued amongst Pacific island countries.

Kiribati’s Commissioner of Police Ioeru Tokantetaake said it was an exciting moment for them. Especially because it was the first time to formally establish relations with another law enforcement agency of a neighbouring country.

“This idea of forging relations between law enforcement agencies of the Pacific was essentially the Fiji Police’s initiative, championed by your former Commissioner of Police supported by the current Police Commissioner,” Commissioner Tokantetaake said.

“We in Kiribati acknowledge and support the concept of working in partnership as an ideal way forward to combat the ever increasing problem of transnational crime as the world is becoming politically, socially and technologically interconnected.”

He thanked the Fijian Government and the Fiji Police Force for making the relationship possible and for allowing their officers to undergo training here in the country.

He said the training could not be offered in Kiribati because of lack of expertise and appropriate facilities.

Commissioner Groenewald said the Fiji Police Force, through the initiative, was not going to remain passive and be a recipient but would offer assistance to other neighbouring Pacific island countries.

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