PM opens $2.1m police station

The $2.1 million Valelevu Police Station was opened by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Monday. Picture: ROMEKA KUMARI/WANSOLWARA

By ROMEKA KUMARI

The opening of the $2.1million Valelevu Police Station in Nasinu this week is expected to strengthen efforts to curb crime in the densely populated municipality.

Officiating at the event, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the investment would also boost the presence of law enforcement in an area with a population of 130,000 people.

“While crime nationally is decreasing, crimes in Nasinu and Valelevu are on the rise. Of all the crime cases reported in the country last year, 15 per cent occurred in these areas, with total crimes up 12 per cent in Nasinu and 5 per cent in Valelevu – the most common of which are burglaries, robberies and assault,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Among all the ways a nation can assess its progress, I believe the most important measure of all is whether or not society is becoming safer for its citizens.

“Public safety is the most essential pillar of any nation’s development and the most sacred duty of any government to uphold.”

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said having the manpower to tackle crime was important.

Valelevu resident Epeli Balesiga welcomed the initiative to invest in the nation’s security forces.

 “The police station is a great help for the people Nasinu and Valelevu. Our Fijian Government is helping many people in Fiji. The opening of the police station shows us that Government is concerned about our safety,” Mr Balesiga said.

Meanwhile, the PM issued a stern warning to officers of the law and said they needed to serve people equally regardless of their background, ethnicity, religion, gender or social status, physical or mental condition, and financial status.

“The complaints that hit my desk aren’t all about attitude. Some are much more serious, citing corruption among officers and other violations of our laws. As police officers, you are entrusted not only to enforce our laws, but to abide by them,” he told officers at the event.

“We won’t tolerate selective justice from our officers. We won’t tolerate favours for friends. We won’t tolerate violence from officers against anyone, nor any other abuses of authority. If you break your social contract, if you use the power bestowed upon you for evil, you will be caught, punished and prosecuted.

“If you see that behaviour carried out by a fellow officer, or even a superior, it is your duty to report that crime. If you choose to turn a blind eye, make no mistake, you are just as guilty of the wrongdoing.”

• Romeka Kumari is a final-year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus. She is also the sports editor for the USP Journalism student training newspaper, Wansolwara.