Months of sleepless nights, struggles, sweat, blood and tears came to an end for 131 Police Constables who graduated yesterday at Nasova, Suva.

For Constables Peni Cavuilagi, 20, and Tomasi Mawi, 18, the last six months were the best memories for them because they found a “best friend” in each other.

The new friends met for the first time in camp and instantly bonded like brothers. But, they did not know that they were closely related.

“Our grandmothers are biological sisters and we did not know each other since birth. I was raised in Ba and my cousin in Vanua Levu. We only came to realise this after spending time together in camp,” Mr Mawi said after the Fiji Police Force passing-out parade yesterday.

“There were so many challenges inside the camp and training was not easy. However, all the sleepless nights and difficult times has paid off,” he said.

“Through all the pain and tears during the training, we went through it together. Knowing that I have a cousin in the field who always encourage me not to give up.”

Mr Mawi said the brotherly bond they had has grown stronger on the field because they encouraged each other all the time and faced all adversities together.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho reminded the recruits that: “You are here for one main reason, that is, ‘to serve’.

“Recruits, you must remember never to take for granted the reason as to why out of the thousands who applied for a place in this Force, you were chosen,” the Commissioner said.

He also reminded the recruits that a new chapter of their life was not going to be a smooth one either.

The work of the Police can be sometimes a thankless, demanding, challenging yet a rewarding one, Commissioner Qiliho said.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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