Defence Review Report : Explore a common name, update the RFMF Act, and Police to update the Police Act 1965

The Fiji National Security and Defence Review report has recommended that the country should explore a common name for Fiji citizens so as to promote social cohesion, engender a distinct national identity, and unify the people to pursue a common agenda (e.g. combat crime, illicit drug use, poverty, environmental vandalism, etc) for the promotion of national security.

The review team chaired by former senior Fijian military office James Sanday, recommends that that Ministry of Home Affairs and Republic of Fiji Military Forces should update the RFMF Act 1949 to clarify the RFMF’s primary role as defence against external threats that serves the democratically elected government of the day.

It also states that the Ministry of Home Affairs should introduce legislation to formalise the role, scope, and responsibilities of the Minister and Ministry responsible for policy direction on defence, security, and policing matters.

The committee recommends that the Ministry should also introduce a legislation to formalise the role of the National Security Council including its Ministerial composition and status.

A recommendation has been made for the establishment of a Secretaries Committee on National Security to coordinate and oversight matters of national security, including investment, at the highest levels of government, and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in National Security and Strategic/Defence Studies at the Fiji National University.

The Ministry and the Fiji Police Force are to integrate the Restore Blue and Police Reset under the forthcoming National Security Strategy and Police to update the Police Act 1965 to emphasise the role of the Force as a service-based organisation.

It is also recommended that there should be support for the Fiji Human Rights Commission for it to regain full international accreditation through the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is to review and update the Security Industry Act 2010 to improve regulation within the private security sector and the Ministry with the Education Ministry to introduce formal training, certification, and licensing standards to support the professionalisation of the private security industry and compliance with the updated Security Industry Act.

The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs are to conduct a force posture review of the police, military, and related maritime agencies in Fiji’s remote islands to strengthen border and maritime security in the Eastern and Northern Division.

There is a recommendation to establish a maritime security strategy and a maritime capability masterplan to ensure a whole-of-government approach to maritime security and to prioritise future investment in accordance with the national interest.

They also recommend to establish a cybersecurity security and digital strategy and a cybersecurity and digital capability masterplan to ensure a whole-of-government approach to cyber security and to prioritise future investment in accordance with the national interest.

It is also recommended to introduce a dedicated long-term funding for Human Rights education and Women, Peace, and Security programmes and to establish an International Security Engagement Strategy that takes into account the new developments in the geostrategic environment. The review team has recommended that there should be steps taken to harness the diaspora to contribute to Fiji’s national security, including remittances, overseas networks, talent circulation, and foreign direct investment, and formulate a Diaspora policy to encourage return required talent.

They also recommend that we should balance investments in global peacekeeping missions with regional security operations for addressing contemporary security threats and challenges like the illicit drug trade in Fiji.