Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew has approved the wearing of turbans with the official Fiji Police crown.
In a statement posted on the Fiji Police Force Facebook page, he said it was in recognition” that the respect for diversity and inclusivity are integral to the success of policing efforts.”
The first member of the force to don the reintroduced uniform was Police Constable Navjeath Singh Sohata – who is a member of Batch 66 undergoing the Basic Recruits Course Training in Nasova.
A devout Sikh, PC Sohata had marched into the Academy knowing the training requirements would require personal sacrifices on his part. However, the Acting Police Commissioner, in respecting PC Sohata’s rights, approved the wearing of turbans with the official Fiji Police crown.
“The decision made after consultation with other senior members of the organisation, recognizes and values the importance of religious diversity,” he said.
The Acting Commissioner said this was a testament of the organisation’s commitment in upholding the fundamental principles of equality and diversity.
According to the Fiji Police Force’s early history as recorded in the book Fiji to the Balkans (History of the Fiji Police Force by Stanley Brown, the first Sikh constables were recruited in the early 1910s.
PC Sohata who hails from Dreketi marched in on August 27, described the start of his journey as “fulfilling a childhood dream.”
The 20-year-old former Dreketi Central College student said life as a recruit was difficult at first, especially the challenge of being away from his family, particularly his twin brother and younger sister. But after two weeks, he settled in and is focused on learning as much as possible for the life of service that awaits him upon completion of the four month training.
“I have a number of people in my life who I look up to as inspiration and role models, and it is my goal to make them proud and be just as good as them when it comes to my professional life,” he said.
