Police need $30M for repair works of quarters and stations – ACP Sateki

The Fiji Police Force will need $30 million to maintain all Police quarters and Police posts around the country.

This was highlighted by Assistance Police Commissioner of Administration and Finance ACP Meli Sateki when questioned by the Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Esrom Immanuel, on how much the Police Force needs to complete all the restoration and major maintenance work.

ACP Sateki says all the quarters and the police stations fall under either a divisional police commander or a director training, and the inspections are normally conducted at the end of every month.

He says the reality is that those inspecting are reluctant to continue the inspection because the issues they had noted in the last inspections continue to remain.

He further says that the PWD used to assist their building and maintenance unit in the maintenance of quarters and stations, but it all stopped when there was no longer a PWD.

The Assistant Police Commissioner adds that they could not do any maintenance work in the last financial year, even though $4 million was allocated in the budget for maintenance work.

ACP Sateki says they had redirected this fund to complete the payment of the bigger police stations like Nadi and Nakasi.

He says they are working within their budget.

The Assistance Police Commissioner revealed that 12 families in Levuka were asked to look for accommodation because the two 1x6 barracks they were living in were deemed unlivable.

ACP Sateki also assured the Committee that in the next financial year, they will look into the maintenance of Police quarters and stations as they will have the funds for this work, however, he says they will not complete all divisions but are working in phases.