Baton recipient dedicates award to parents, all women
Officer Ulamila Karisitiana scored top marks in all indoor and outdoor activities, as well as theoretical and practical assessment.
It was special moment when Ulamila Karisitiana received the Baton of Honour at the Police passout-out parade.
Special in the sense that she had won the top award in a male-dominated environment.
Ms Karisitiana, 33, a former civil servant, had decided on a career switch because she was fascinated by the work of the Police.
She scored top marks in all indoor and outdoor activities, as well as the theoretical and practical assessment of the course.
She is from Natogadravu Village, Nuku in Tailevu.
She received her baton from the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the Vodafone Arena, Laucala Bay in Suva. She was among the 243 new constable recruits who graduated yesterday, 39 of whom are women.
“I had set a goal to try to achieve a special award,” she said. Ms Karisitiana said she wanted to prove that women could perform like the men, if not better.
“I came into the course with an injured ankle,” she said.
“I was thinking of my family and people in my village and all the female officers in the organisation and this award is for all of them.”
She said her goal was to participate in extra courses available and in the next five years to climb up a rank and to become a senior officer.
“Women can achieve anything if we set our goals,” she said.
“My mother was my inspiration. She is actually my role model.” Ms Karisitiana also dedicated the award to her father on peacekeeping duties in Iraq.