The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces,
The Commissioner of Police,
The Acting Commissioner of FICAC,
Senior representatives from our security and enforcement agencies,
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Election Security Risk Assessment Workshop. Today, we come together not as individual agencies, but as a unified team dedicated to protecting one of the cornerstones of our democracy free, fair, and secure elections.
In any electoral process, the trust of the people is our greatest currency. That trust can only be maintained if the public has confidence that their votes are cast in safety, counted with integrity, and protected from any threat; whether physical, cyber, or procedural.
The purpose of this workshop is clear:
- To assess and understand the potential security risks we may face before, during, and after the election period.
- Develop risk mitigation plans that define roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms amongst the ESAG member agencies.
- And to ensure that our contingency plans are not just on paper, but operationally sound and ready to be implemented.
The establishment of the Election Security Advisory Group (ESAG) reflects our shared commitment to proactive collaboration. Each of our agencies brings unique expertise, from law enforcement and anti-corruption enforcement to national defense and electoral operations. When these capabilities are combined in a coordinated framework, our resilience against threats is greatly enhanced.
Over the course of this workshop, I encourage open discussion, practical scenario analysis, and the sharing of institutional insights. The more realistic and frank our assessments are, the stronger our preparedness will be.
I also wish to acknowledge that tomorrow we will formalize our cooperation by signing the Terms of Reference for ESAG. This is more than a procedural step it is a public declaration of our commitment to safeguarding Fiji’s electoral process through partnership, professionalism, and preparedness.
In closing, I thank each of you for the dedication you bring to this work. The FEO values your support immensely. Together, we will ensure that when the people of Fiji go to the polls, they can do so in an environment of safety, integrity, and trust.
Vinaka vakalevu, and I look forward to a productive workshop.
