Those spooked by the presence of a senior Central Intelligence Agency official in Fiji have nothing to fear. Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said this as he hinted at the possibility of using the CIA’s “global knowledge and expertise” in the fight against drugs.
He said he met the CIA’s Deputy Director, David Cohen, on Tuesday in Suva to discuss areas of mutual interest.
They exchanged ideas on how both countries could benefit from each other.
“I’ve met him as the Acting Prime Minister, so it was a broad conversation around the international environment and the fact that we are becoming more and more of a transit point for drugs,” Mr Kamikamica said.
There’s a possibility of Fiji working with the Central Intelligence Agency in its fight against drugs, says Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica.
Mr Kamikamica met CIA deputy director David Cohen, in Suva on Tuesday to discuss areas of mutual interest.
The CIA is the US government’s foreign intelligence service that gathers national security information from around the world.
Mr Kamikamica said they exchanged ideas on how both countries could benefit from each other.
“I’ve met him as the Acting Prime Minister, so it was a broad conversation around the international environment and the fact that we are becoming more and more of a transit point for drugs,” Mr Kamikamica said.
In response to queries from this newspaper, Mr Kamikamica did not specify the nature of his discussions with Mr Cohen.
“However, think about the security apparatus the Central Intelligence Agency has,” he said.
“The global knowledge and expertise they have.”
Asked why he discussed these areas of mutual interest when they fall under the ambit of the US State Department, Mr Kamikamica said he also met other officials of the US government
. “I also met the deputy Secretary of State and Ambassador at Large for cybersecurity separately in my office,” he said.
The developments of the past few days also gave Mr Kamikamica an opportunity to allay potential public fear and disquiet over Mr Cohen’s visit.
In response to concerns raised on social media over the presence of the CIA’s second in command, Mr Kamikamica urged Fijians against what he described as “idle speculation”.
“There is no need to be concerned,” he said. “We have a very stable government, we have a Prime Minister who is in total control of the Coalition.
“We are tracking well as a government.” Mr Kamikamica said the important thing for the country was focussing on “how we work together to rebuild Fiji rather than getting preoccupied with idle speculation”.
“So, in a way, expertise will keep the border safe, just looking at ways to collaborate.”
On the essence of their discussions on national issues, Mr Kamikamica said “we didn’t really touch on that, more around just having an opportunity to collaborate”.
“When we have expertise like them at our doorstep, it is a very positive development and just to allow, not only Fiji, but the region to benefit.”
