Nawaikula Raises Concerns Over Police Recruitment Diversity

Former parliamentarian Niko Nawaikula has raised concerns over what he describes as a lack of ethnic diversity in the latest round of police recruitment interviews.

In a public statement, Nawaikula claimed it was “disheartening” to learn that no Indo-Fijians were reportedly listed among 100 candidates selected for interviews, as reported in a recent news article.

He argued that public service recruitment, including the police force, should reflect Fiji’s ethnic composition, stating that diversity across groups such as iTaukei, Indo-Fijians, Rotumans and other communities is essential for fairness and national unity.

Nawaikula further said that failure to maintain balanced representation could lead to perceptions of bias and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

He also pointed to historical policies, including affirmative action measures under the 1997 Constitution, which aimed to address disparities in access to education and public sector employment.

In addition, Nawaikula raised concerns about nepotism and favouritism in recruitment processes, calling for stricter oversight and reforms to ensure transparency and fairness.

He referenced provisions in the proposed Counter Narcotics Bill, noting that recruitment frameworks should promote diversity and include clear standards of conduct for officers.