Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has warned traffickers and illegal fishers seeking to exploit Fiji waters that they’re being watched.
In opening the Australian government-funded $120million Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre in Lami yesterday, Mr Rabuka said the facility would serve as a hub for regional coordination, supporting combined and joint operations, information-sharing with Pacific neighbours and international partners.
“As we confront increasingly complex challenges across our Blue Pacific, we must build not only our individual national capabilities, but also our collective resilience as a region,” he said. “Our message to the traffickers and illegal fishers that seek to exploit Fiji, is that we are watching you and we will get you.”
Mr Rabuka said the opening of the centre marked a bold step forward “in our journey to protect our maritime domain, enhance regional cooperation, and safeguard our collective future”.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles described the project as an incredible achievement over the course of two years.
“More than 1400 contracts were signed with Fiji and partners for the delivery of this facility, and 275 jobs were created in the building of this facility,” he said. “But as significant as these facts and figures are, what is much more profound is the capability that this now represents for Fiji and indeed, for the Pacific region, one of the real challenges that every nation faces is coordination.
“Under one roof, we have the Fiji Navy, the Fiji Police, Fiji Customs, Fiji Fisheries, the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, the Hydrographic Office and more.”
Bringing these agencies together into one place, Mr Marles said represented power.
“It represents the ability to make change. It represents the ability to give effective practical outcomes.”
