Government Picks Sanday

Colonel (Ret’d) James (Jim) Sanday has been appointed as the Independent Review Lead for the Government’s Na­tional Security and Defense Re­view.

This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua during a press conference at the Department of Information in Suva yesterday.

Colonel Sanday was the Chief of Staff that was ousted by the Prime Minister during the 1987 coup.

Mr Tikoduadua said PM Rabuka was very influential in the process by moti­vating him to apply for this review.

“I’m glad that the process was able to bring Colonel Sanday in. I think this speaks of the PM’s character as the na­tion is the only picture he is looking at and not necessarily the past,” he said.

“For me personally, he was the last one standing with the Royal Standard. We’re trying to look for a way forward and find the light house, he is the light house we want to use and hopefully shoe us the way forward.”

Mr Tikoduadua said the re­view will undertake extensive consultations with the public, government, stakeholders and civil organisations.

“Community engagement is a key priority for this govern­ment to ensure the review re­flects the diversity of all Fijian people,” he said.

The key objective of the review will look at crafting a National Security Strategy outlining Fiji’s national inter­est and identify and implement legisla­tive and regulatory reforms in defense and security.

It also aimed at designing a Security Sector Reform and Governance (SSRG) Programme.

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