Immediate decisions need to be made if Water Police is to operate from their Draunibota base long term – Tikoduadua

Immediate decisions need to be made if the Water Police are to operate from their Draunibota Bay Base long term in terms of their buildings.

Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua stated this during his visit after he was briefed by the Commanding Officer for the Water Police, Superintendent of Police, Shomas Chand.

SP Chand also mentioned that they were short of manpower and are not able to perform their duties to their full ability.

He says for instance, there was a case that needed to be attended to in the Lau Group, they requested help from the Fiji Navy as they do not have the capability to travel that far.

Tikoduadua suggested that the Water Police have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fiji Navy in terms of training and outer islands cases that the Water Police can not attend to.

The Minister was taken on a tour around their workshop, and also inspected the jetty and pontoon which the officers have said needs to be replaced as the drums have started taking on water.

He also noticed some boats that needed to get their hulls repaired.