The first Fijian woman to get the top job in a United Nations peacekeeping mis­sion Unaisi Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa was given high recommendations and ovations for her new position from all Members of Parliament yesterday.

Minister for Defence and National Secu­rity Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said it was an outstanding achievement by Ms Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa, who was recently appointed as the Commissioner of Police for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Ratu Inoke said the hard work Ms Vuniwaqa did over the years and her accomplishment had been remarkable for a small country like Fiji with a relatively small Police force.

“Ms Vuniwaqa has become the first Fijian woman to get the top job in a United Nations peacekeeping mission and is vested with its overall command and direction,” Ratu Inoke said.

“This is the highest post achieved by any of­ficer of the Fiji Police Force. It is a first for Fiji and it is indeed greatly encouraging to all women in our discipline forces and those con­sidering joining the forces.”

Ratu Inoke said Ms Vuniwaqa’s new ap­pointment as UNPOL Commissioner in South Sudan is for an initial period of one-year secondment and with the opportunity of extension.

National Federation Party MP Prem Singh acknowledged Ms Vuniwaqa’s accomplish­ment stating that this was an integral part of development for women, where Ms Vuniwaqa has put Fiji on the map with religious, cul­tural background and has had an illustrious career with the Fiji Police Force.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HER

CAREER IN THE FIJI POLICE FORCE

INCLUDES:

• Preceding her recent appointment Ms. Vuniwaqa took up her assignment in South Sudan as the Deputy Police Commissioner on 9 June 2017.
• Since the departure from the mission of her predecessor in February 2018, she has been acting on the position of Police Com­missioner until her confirmation to the post on 30 April 2018.

n Prior to joining UNMISS, Ms Vuniwaqa held the position as Acting Assistant Com­missioner of Police administration in the Fiji Police Force having served as Director in various portfolios including Community Po­licing, Strategic Planning, Human Resources and Training.

• Mr Vuniwaqa started her career in UN peacekeeping in 2016 with UNMISS as an Individual Police officer, and was the Contin­gent Commander of the Fiji Police Contin­gent from May 2016 to May 2017.
• During this tenure, she had served in the Protection of Civilian Site in Juba and later as a planning officer.
• The setting up of the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit in 1995,

n Re-establishment of the Juvenile Bureau in 2003, establishing the School of Communi­ty Policing in 2006 and leading the review and launching of Fiji Police homegrown Commu­nity Policing model now known as the ‘Dua­vata Model of Community Policing’.

• She was also instrumental in initiating the setting up of the Fiji Police Women’s Net­work in 2004 and was the network coordina­tor for a number of years.
• She launched her career into peacekeep­ing when she led a contingent to the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands as Fiji Police Contingent Commander in 2007 to 2008 during which she assumed the role as Pacific Islands Contingent Commander for the 14 Pacific Island Police contributing coun­tries.
• Her career in the Fiji Police started on a high note when selected as the Best All-around recruit out of a Batch of 100 Police officers in 1986.
• She was later nominated as the first fe­male Cadet Officer in 1995.
• Ms Vuniwaqa holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

Edited by Percy Kean

Ratu Inoke said the hard work Ms Vuniwaqa did over the years and her accomplishment had been remarkable for a small country like Fiji with a relatively small police force