The PNG PM was very impressed on what the Fiji Police Force showed as their capabilities- Qiliho

Papua New Guinea’s (PNG)  Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, was impressed with the Fiji Police Force’s capabilities in terms of security.

Mr O’Neill visited the Fiji Police Force Academy in Nasova, Suva on Tuesday, to view the Force’s capability to aid PNG during the APEC meeting in November.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific countries.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said the arrangements were made for Mr O’Neill to view a live demonstration by the Force’s Police Special Response Unit (PSRU) at Nasova.

“We were happy to host the Prime Minister of PNG to show the capabilities of the Fiji Police Force.

And that was the purpose of his visit to see the capabilities of our policemen and women and accessibility that we have today,” Mr  Qiliho said.

“Mr O’Neill was very impressed on what the Fiji Police Force had shown as their capabilities.

He also stressed on the importance of sharing our knowledge with the PNG Police Constabulary.

“I reiterated to him that we have been in talks with his Police Commissioner and agreed that we can share some of our experiences with them, and we are very willing to learn from their experiences on handling issues of a bigger magnitude, population and the size of the Police Force they have.

He said there were discussions on-going between the PNG Police Commissioner and Fiji Police Force on how Fiji could assist them in terms of providing security in the upcoming APEC meeting hosted by PNG.

“We are now looking at ways that we can assist the PNG Police Force in the upcoming APEC meeting as it is a huge magnitude that we can learn more on international security coming together,” Mr Qiliho said.

He added that APEC’s 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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