United Nations pre-embarkation Course

Nine officers have completed the three-day United Nations pre-embarkation Course aimed at equipping officers with necessary COVID-19 precautionary measures in order to competently perform peacekeeping duties when deployed with the United Nations African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

The nine officers will be representing Fiji and the Fiji Police Force at the two mission areas in the coming weeks.

In closing the course Director International Relations Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ulaiasi Ravula reminded the officers due to leave for mission that their selection is part of Government’s intent on extending its foreign diplomacy.

“Although we are not sending a large contingent across for these missions as our comrades from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces do, we are still in our small way extending Government’s reach to several countries since the first Police mission to Namibia”.

In the last 12 months the Fiji Police Force has secured places at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the United Nations Mission in Yemen which also marked Fiji’s first footprints in the two mission areas.

“Inspector Rusila Cakacaka may be the only Fijian Police officer in UNISFA at the moment but she is still flying the Fiji Police and Fiji flags and this is the extension of Fiji’s foreign diplomacy tool”.

The aim of the course was to equip the officers with the knowledge of the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SSP Ravula said the knowledge gained should be put to good use as there are many young officers waiting for their opportunity to be also part of UN missions.

“There’s a lot of competition going on with member countries, we are thankful for our representatives in New York for continuing to knock on doors which is why discipline will be key to keeping the doors open for our institution”.

“The UN is a big organisation and the eyes of the world will be on you as a UN peacekeeper as you are a symbol of hope and peace and at times your role will change from being a peacekeeper to one of a peacebuilder so you must not let your country down and maintain discipline at all times”.

The first officer is expected to leave on the 31st of August for a one-year tour of duty with UNISFA.

The remaining officers will leave next month for UNAMID.