Fiji’s Police Commissioner Receives Traditional Welcome in Papua New Guinea

Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Rusiate Tudravu, was accorded a traditional ceremony of welcome by members of the Fijian community residing in Port Moresby during his official visit to Papua New Guinea.

The ceremony, held in the presence of Fiji’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Jackson Evans, was a display of cultural pride and unity. Commissioner Tudravu expressed heartfelt appreciation for the warm reception, describing it as a reflection of the close kinship shared by the Fijian diaspora in Port Moresby.

“I acknowledge with sincere gratitude the leadership of His Excellency Jackson Evans. The traditional welcome held in my honour speaks volumes of the deep ties and respect that exist within our community here in Papua New Guinea,” said Commissioner Tudravu.

The Commissioner is in Port Moresby to participate in the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) Design Steering Group meeting and the Pacific Chiefs of Police Forum. These high-level discussions will be followed by the inaugural Pacific Police Tattoo on July 22, 2025—an event that will bring together police bands from across the Pacific, including PNG, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and Samoa.

Commissioner Tudravu also acknowledged the Fijian community and the High Commission for their hospitality towards the Fiji Police Band, who arrived in Port Moresby earlier to prepare for the Tattoo event.

Supported by the Australian Federal Police under the PPI, the Pacific Police Tattoo aims to celebrate the Pacific’s rich cultural diversity through music while fostering stronger regional policing partnerships.

During his visit, Commissioner Tudravu also took time to engage with members of the Fijian community in a talanoa session, where he addressed questions and shared insights on policing issues.

“The preservation of tradition, protocol, and respect for our identity is evident even beyond our shores,” he said. “It’s deeply moving to witness our culture upheld so proudly.”