29 Apr 2002

A call for an expatriate to become Fiji's new police commissioner

7:17 am on 29 April 2002

There's been a call in Fiji for an expatriate to replace the outgoing police commissioner, Colonel Isikia Savua.

Colonel Savua has been named as Fiji's next ambassador to the United Nations and will take up his post in June.

The call for an expatriate replacement came during the annual convention of the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A senior member and leading hotelier, Radike Qereqeretabua, said an expatriate commissioner, preferably British, would make the police force more effective as a law enforcement body.

He said such a move would boost investor confidence.

The Chamber President, Taito Waradi, said he agreed with the call because one of the biggest problems was that as a local and a Fijian ....Fijian traditional ties were getting in the way of his responsibilities.