PERSONAL PROTECTION COURSE

Members of the Fiji Police Force are part of a joint training facilitated by the United States Embassy in Suva and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces at the Black Rock facility in Lololo focusing on enhancing skills of Close Protection Officers or Personal Protection Officers in accordance with United Nations Standards.

It is also the first close protection joint course for military and police personnel and the first to include women.

The training was opened by the United States Defence attache, Commander Constantine Panayiotou who acknowledged the commitment made by the Hon. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji’s participation in world peace.

“Your Prime Minister, the honorable Voreqe Bainimarama reiterated Fiji’s commitment to world peace while addressing the United Nations general assembly in New York where he emphasized the solemn will of the Fijian people to continue serving the course of peace wherever and whenever called”.

The training according to Commander Panayiotou will provide the participants with the skills needed to protect leaders throughout the world in accordance with the UN’s standards.

“The joint and gender-inclusive nature of this course clearly paints a positive picture among Fiji’s discipline forces as they work to achieve Fiji’s goals not only domestically and regionally but also globally”.

I am quite confident that this course will advance the high quality of the peacekeeping training consistent with the outstanding reputation of your Blackrock peacekeeping school which is scheduled to be completed next year Meanwhile Fiji Police’s Director International Relations Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ulaiasi Ravula acknowledged the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the United States Government for extending the invitation for Police officers to be part of the training.

SSP Ravula said the US Government has continuously supported institutional efforts towards the capacity enhancement of its personnel in all aspects of policing.