Fiji is ready to lead.

Fiji is also ready to be declared the regional hub as a United Nations Police (UNPOL) Regional Training Centre, for the sake of our smaller island states who share the same commitment to enhancing international peace and security.

This was highlighted by Fiji’s Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho at the UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) 2022 in New York this week.

Brigadier-General Qiliho was in New York to attend the UNCOPS which was held at the United Nations Headquarters. The two-day Summit was from August 31 to September 1.

He said just as Fiji opened its doors for regional polic­ing training and workshops in other fields of policing, so too would Fiji offer the same for pre-deployment peacekeeping training.

He added that collectively Fiji had the will. However, support was needed for smaller Pacific Islands states, and by having a regional hub established, we would sure to attract more interest for Police peacekeeping from the region.

“I want to reiterate that we, as Pacific law enforcement, are committed to continuing our service to humanity,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.

Fiji’s Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho met James A. Walsh, the United States Department of State’s, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement in New York. Photo: Fiji Police Force.

“But we need help in doing so and this can be best achieved by bringing the training opportunities closer to the region.

“On the margins of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Conference, I had the opportunity to speak can­didly with fellow chiefs, observers, and partners, and an issue discussed at length was the need to urgently identify a regional hub for UN Peacekeeping training opportunities,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.

The Fiji Police Force stands ready to assist in this re­gard, simply for the following reasons:

• Fiji has nine officers who are certified trainers in various aspects of UN training.
• Out of the nine, five are women, who are certified, SAAT Instructors, Certified FPU Trainers, JIP Trainers, and FPAT Instructors.
• The remaining four certified trainers, are all UN JIP Instructors and Technical Advisors.
• They have received training in Brindisi in Italy, Australia, India, Jordan, and Entebbe and at various UN Centres.
• Since 2010, Fijian Police Officers who were UN Certified SAAT Instructors have been able to con­duct training for Fijian Officers, and Fiji would ideally like to extend the same opportunity to its Pacific partners.
• Prior to the pandemic, four officers attained UN recognition as Curriculum Development Officers to meet the evolving demands and challenges of Peacekeeping.
• Fiji has officers trained by various international organisations such as the International Commit­tee of the Red Cross, United Nations Development Programme, and of course right at home with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).

Fiji’s Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho with Inspector General Tan Sri Acryl Sani Hj. Abdullah Sani of the Royal Malaysian Police Force a the UNCOPS 2022 Summit in New York.
Photo: Fiji Police Force

Also, the Fiji Police Force, through Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, co-hosted with the Governments of Finland, Germany, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Rwanda, Kiribati, a pre-event discussion.

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Op­erations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, opened the Discussions which were based on how to improve the training as­pects of Police peacekeepers and peacebuilders of the United Nations Police component of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

This event ensured that Fiji broaden its footprint in United Nations Peacekeeping Discussions at UNHQ Level on the eve of the Opening of the UNCOPS Sum­mit.

On the sidelines of the UNCOPS Summit, Brigadier-General Qiliho met James A. Walsh, the United States Department of State’s, Principal Deputy Assistant Sec­retary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law En­forcement.

Discussions focused on ongoing capacity and capabil­ity development the US Government has assisted with the Fiji Police Force and future plans to strengthen co­operation.

Mr Walsh specially thanked the Commissioner for the assistance rendered to the interdiction of the Russian Yacht, Amadea.

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj