Fiji at heart of evolution

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Fiji’s Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga (left) in discussion with the Kingdom of Tonga’s Attorney General Linda Folaumoetu’i during the PILON (Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network) Cybercrime Legislation Implementation Subcommittee 3rd in Person meeting held at the Novotel Hotel in Nadi. Picture: REINAL CHAND

The digital landscape of the Pacific is transforming at a rapid pace, says acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga.

He told participants at the Pacific Islands Law Officer’s Network (PILON) cybercrime legislation implementation subcommittee meeting in Nadi on Monday that Fiji sits at the literal and figurative heart of this transformation.

“We believe that economic resilience and digital transformation must go hand-in-hand with robust security,” Mr Turaga said.

“Fiji has translated this belief into decisive action through several milestone accomplishments.

“We have launched our ambitious National Digital Strategy (2025–2030) and the National E-Commerce Strategy, establishing a secure, inclusive framework to transition Fiji into a leading digital economy.

“Alongside our National Cybersecurity and Resilience Strategy (2026–2031), we are actively strengthening our National CERT capabilities to handle emerging threats.

“To ensure our legal architectures match international best practices, Fiji enacted the Cybercrime Act 2021. Building on this foundation, Fiji formally acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and signed its Second

Additional Protocol on enhanced cooperation and electronic evidence.”

Mr Turaga said Fiji officially signed the landmark United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime treaty on December 18, 2025, in New York.

“As the 74th country to sign the treaty, the move strengthens Fiji’s national security against digital threats like credit card fraud, identity theft, and online child exploitation.

“We share these achievements not to boast, but to demonstrate our absolute commitment to this cause.”

The three-day meeting brings together senior legal professionals from Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Nauru, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia and Fiji who will formulate and draft the Cybercrime Legislation Implementation Handbook.

Attorney-General of Tonga Linda Simiki Folaumoetu’i said the three-day meet had many activities aimed at finalising the handbook, which would be presented at the PILON executive general meeting in Tuvalu in October this year.