The Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Jovesa Vocea, officially opened the 2nd Fiji National Emergency Response Team (NERT) Training in Lautoka yesterday, reaffirming Government’s commitment to strengthening Fiji’s disaster preparedness and response capacity.
Building on the success of the inaugural training, the programme is designed to strengthen Fiji’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities through structured and professional training for government personnel and frontline responders.
While addressing participants at the opening of the week-long event, Hon. Vocea highlighted that the training responded directly to lessons learned from past operations, where civil servants were often deployed without formal orientation.
“We recognise those challenges and more importantly, we are responding to them. This training was developed to ensure that when disaster strikes, our personnel are not only willing, but fully prepared, ready to act with confidence, coordination, and competence,” Hon. Vocea said.
In 2024, Cabinet endorsed the establishment of the National Emergency Response Team (NERT), a key reform under the National Disaster Risk Management Act 2024. Hon. Vocea noted that this step institutionalised disaster response capability across government and shifted Fiji away from reactive responses toward a culture of readiness, professionalism, and resilience.
Hon. Vocea also commended Fiji’s ongoing role in supporting Pacific neighbours during disasters, saying this reflected the country’s shared responsibility to strengthen regional resilience.
“Through our support, we help others rebuild, recover, and prepare and in doing so, we lift the entire region,” he said.
Participants were also reminded that the training provided an opportunity to build trust, strengthen interoperability, and test national coordination systems.
“You are being trained to be the best of the best, a national resource that will be called upon in the most critical of times. In a time of crisis, your leadership can save lives. Your decisions can make the difference between fear and hope,” he told trainees.
Hon. Vocea also reiterated Government’s commitment to building a culture of preparedness, highlighting ongoing investments in early warning systems, emergency infrastructure, and community resilience initiatives.
The 2nd NERT Training brings together participants from across government ministries and agencies who will undergo intensive sessions designed to enhance disaster response capacity and coordination.