PRIME MINISTER HON. VOREQE BAINIMARAMA'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE NAKOROTUBU COMMUNITY POLICE POST

Valelevu i Nakorotubu, Vua na Gone Turaga na Gone Sau;
Kei Kemuni Saka na Veituraga ni Noda Vanua o Ra;
Turaga na iTalatala;
Senior Government Officials;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.
 
Let me begin by congratulating the Police on their commanding victory at the Ratu Sukuna Bowl. Your big win was an early birthday present for your Acting Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu, whose birthday was this past Monday.
 
I’m very glad to be here with you this morning to open the newly-rebuilt Nakorotubu Community Police Post, which will serve around 7,000 Fijians here and in the surrounding areas. As Fiji braces for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasa, it is no small wonder as to why it was so important that we took the time to rebuild this new post to cyclone-resilient standards.
 
We anticipate the worst of Cyclone Yasa will begin striking Fiji from tonight. Starting here in the Western Division, we can expect heavy rains, flooding in low-lying areas, and landslides.
 
You, along with your fellow officers around the country, are likely already getting calls from communities unsure about whether it is safe to travel. Unless directed to evacuate by disaster authorities, everyone should be encouraged to stay home, stay off the roads, stay out of floodwaters, and stay safe.
 
As officers of the law, you are each entrusted with the safety and security of all Fijians. Threats to our people’s wellbeing come in many forms: Violent crimes, reckless drivers, severe weather, and most recently, in the form of COVID-19. 
 
During Fiji’s short but serious outbreak of the virus, we looked to our Police Officers and other members of our Disciplined Forces to enforce the hard but necessary measures to stop the spread of the virus early on, including our lockdowns of the greater Suva and Lautoka areas. Because of that decisive, collective effort, Fiji is a COVID-Contained country. To keep it that way, the Police must continue to enforce our COVID-safe measures, including the nationwide curfew. Until a vaccine is widely available, we must keep our vigilance and keep Fijians safe by diligently enforcing our health protection measures.
 
Here in Namarai Village, we see clearly that the role of our Police is not confined to the urban areas. We do not want our cities and major population centres to be the only places where Fijians can live decent, productive lives.

We need our laws enforced everywhere that our people call home and do business. And as we look to make peri-urban and rural areas in Fiji more liveable, investments in good policing provide the foundation of security that every community needs to thrive.  And we have raised the salaries of Police Constables from 9,000 dollars a year in 2006 to between 16,000 dollars and 18,000 dollars annually today for that very reason.
 
This Nakorotubu Community Police Post has served these communities since the late 1990s. But the impact of super-cyclone Winston not only took out the old police building, as a direct result, it risked cutting Fijians off from the protection that the Police provide. Such is the cruel nature of climate change. Its impacts can sever Fijians from the services they count on.

If we do not intervene, it can relegate them to the margins of society. That is why, rather than rebuild this Post as it was, we acknowledged the new climate reality. Knowing that storms like Winston would become more frequent, we rebuilt this post to higher, cyclone-proof standards. So, when the next storm comes, this post will be standing when the skies clear. When the sun of a new day shines, our officers will be able to fulfil their duty, and Fijians in Namarai Village and its surrounding areas can live in safety.
 
The duty of care that officers owe every Fijian is precious. And you do indeed owe that duty of care to every Fijian, regardless of who they are, regardless of where they live, and regardless of their status in society.
 
If someone’s loved one goes missing, if they are the victim of a robbery, if they are sexually abused, or if they feel threatened, in any way, they count on the Police to come to their aid. They do not expect to suffer from ethnic, religious, socio-economic, or provincial favouritism. They do not expect to have their concerns pushed aside. They expect to be treated fairly, they expect their concerns to be given urgency, and they expect that justice will be delivered. As officers, when you put on your uniforms, you become the people’s servant and you become the people’s protector. You do not become better than anyone, nor do you somehow rise above the very laws you are meant to enforce. As I have said for years, we will never tolerate officers who think they are above the law, or who arrogantly take the law into their own hands.
 
The trust people hold in a nation’s institutions is essential to any democracy. When people see a Police Officer walking the street, driving the roads, or in their community, they should trust that woman or man is well-trained. They should trust they will be treated by that officer with decency. If that sacred trust is violated, if an officer is impetuous, or uses violence as a tool to suppress others, that bad conduct tears at the very fabric of our democratic society. And I will tell you now: Officers who commit such offences will be held to account. Of course, that goes both ways. If members of the public assault an officer, the penalties are steep as well.
 
Under the leadership of Commissioner Qiliho and Acting Commissioner Tudravu, the Police have taken important steps towards becoming a more accountable and effective force. We have funded a massive programme to modernise the Fiji Police Force and equip officers with the right equipment to address ever-evolving criminal elements. Unlike in the past, officers are actually being charged when they commit acts of violence, as they should. But for a better culture of policing to truly take hold, we need all officers to embrace that new mentality of accountability. By showing a consistently high level of integrity, day after day, you instil faith in our people that they can count on each of you for protection and that they live in a nation where the rule of law reigns supreme.
 
As Yasa heads for Fiji, stay safe, and urge the same from the communities you serve and protect. We are heading for a difficult few days, at the very least, and we must be prepared.
 
Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. And I wish a Merry Christmas to each of you and your families.
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