Source: Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre

There are provisions within some of the regional arrangements that can allow the Fiji Navy to conduct surveillance in other regions.

This was confirmed by Navy Commander Captain Humphrey Tawake.

Captain Tawake says they also have the Niue Treaty Subsidiary arrangement which allows bilateral or multi-lateral partnerships dependent on the government’s preference.

He adds if the Navy was given a chance, they would not only focus on surveillance but also in humanitarian assistance disaster relief as well.

“That is an area that we trying to build within our capacity, also due to the effects of climate change and most of our landscape here in Fiji is maritime. If we are to respond to any of the immediate islands in the Pacific or within Fiji it would be Sea Islands. We’re trying to build in apart from the hydrographic vessels that we have in addition to the surveillance capability that we have.”

The Navy Commander is optimistic this will come to fruition in due time.