Regional Security Symposium opening

Security experts and members of academia are meeting in Suva at the inaugural Transnational Organised Crime (TNOC) Regional Security Symposium hosted by the University of Canterbury’s Pacific Regional Security Hub and supported by UK in Fiji

Opening the two day symposium at the Pacific Islands Forum today in Suva was the Minister for Policing, Honourable Ioane Naivalurua MP who reiterated the need for enhanced collaboration amongst existing regional security institutions.

“Countering transnational crime, particularly the illicit drug trade, is the fight of our generation. As leaders, policymakers, security professionals, and civil society representatives, this is a fight we cannot afford to walk away from.”

“Failure to confront the illicit drug trade leads to increased crime rates, economic instability, and societal breakdown. The

longer these networks operate unchecked, the more entrenched they become in our communities and institutions.”

TNOC symposium facilitator and University of Canterbury’s Director of the Macmillan Brown Center for Pacific Studies, Professor Steven Ratuva said the security experts bring together their different experiences of national security situations to look at security interests and broader connections.

Professor Ratuva said it was equally important to look at the significant security threats to the region and ensure a Pacific led approach to cover gaps.

He reiterated that as leaders, while it was important to think at the strategic level, it was also vital to look vertically and laterally at the situation and how the threats are exposing vulnerabilities within Pacific communities linked to culture, health and the environment.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the lead and convenor of the Pacific Regional Security Hub (PRSH) in the University of Canterbury Associate Professor of Practice, José Sousa-Santos who said the intent of the symposium is to add value to current regional law enforcement security architectures in place for a stronger, coordinated and resilient Pacific led approach.

The symposium ends tomorrow.