Safety of our peacekeeping troops is Govt’s top priority – Tikoduadua

Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua has reassured Parliament today that the safety of our troops that have been deployed on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East or any other parts of the world remains the government’s top priority.

This is after he was asked by the Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu if the Minister of Defence is satisfied with the equipment that the troops are issued with, particularly protection vehicles.

Seruiratu says it is obvious that the Bushmaster is aging, and if there are plans to get in additional protection vehicles as well since this is so important for the safety of our troops.

Tikoduadua says post-protection measures are an important and integral part of the RFMF, and also the force and government would like to do that.

He adds that last year, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka took receipt of 14 Bushmasters that are now in Nadi, and the government is working on plans to send at least seven of these to the mission area.

He says that unfortunately, the government is hindered at the moment because there is only a limited number of vehicles that the UN will allow in the demarcated area.