Police Inspector Sisa Tuicoro Jr initially thought the basic diplomacy training course which he graduated from recently was just another short program.
But what he got was more than what he bargained for.
The 37-year-old law enforcer from Vuniwai in Saqani, Cakaudrove with maternal links to Qeleni on Taveuni, was one of 16 students who graduated from the program on September 21 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.
The eight-month training session is the United Nations Association of Fiji’s first major program promoting leadership through diplomacy.
“We started out with 28 participants, but only 16 graduated,” Inspector Tuicoro said.
“That’s how strenuous the program was. It wasn’t easy.”
Inspector Tuicoro said the program required him to sacrifice time with his family and friends in order to complete course activities and debate sessions that would at times go on until the morning.
“We had students doing medicine and law. We had others doing psychology programs,” he said.
“It just gives you the direction, goal and guidance to do the work because the program helps you filter out anything bad.”
Inspector Tuicoro said towards the end of the course, they were required to do three days of submissions, and sometimes those submission sessions would start at 8pm and finish at 3 o’clock in the morning.
“That was just debating and giving long hours of submissions,” he added.
Inspector Tuicoro said the diplomacy program taught him negotiation skills, diplomatic affairs and even table etiquette.
“All of these were just an eye-opening experience, totally new from the police work I do everyday. It made us think outside the box,” he said.
“I deal a lot with the dignitaries and I work a lot with ambassadors, so I come in as part of security. This program actually gave me a new perspective on how to conduct my work.”
“I’ve been in the force for 15 years now and we have to juggle providing security to some of our dignitaries, in a diplomatic way so that it does not break protocol. The program actually taught us that.”
Inspector Tuicoro said he also learned how to navigate between security details and diplomatic processes more efficiently.
“I joined with another police officer. With the load of work piled upon us we had to juggle all that,” he said.
“So, one important factor is the support of your family. That is the backbone to everything you do. If you don’t have the proper support, you will not succeed in life.
“Sometimes I had to work late on Fridays and I’d be too tired, but I had to attend classes at 7am the next day, so my family kept pushing me to go and today I’ve seen the result of my hard work.”
