Napolioni shares experience

NAPOLIONI Likuveiqali has spent much of the past 27 years as a customs officer. Starting from the very bottom, he has risen up the ranks to the top. His years of experience has helped him become one of the most knowledgeable staff of Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).

To Mr Likuveiqali, each day in the customs field is a learning experience. This is the way he has treated work over the years.

He started 2023 by adding another feather to his cap when he was awarded a World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit.

Now the acting principal customs officer border Lautoka, Mr Likuveiqali says he continues to learn something each day on the job.

“I’m from Nacamaki, Koro, Lomaiviti, I started school on the island and then moved to Viti Levu to join Lelean Memorial School,” he says.

“I finished at Indian College (now Jai Narayan College) before I started at customs 27 years ago. I managed to gain my qualification through Fiji National University, then I did my post grad with the University of Fiji.

“We have seven siblings in the family. And I’m the seventh one, the youngest. One has passed on.

“I started out in Suva when we were recruited as assistant customs officers. So within Suva, I spent about 10 years.”

Mr Likuveiqali says at the time, they didn’t have the various divisions they now have at FRCS. It used to be more like an umbrella organisation.

“I started at a time when it was called

– the customs and excise department, before the birth of FRCS. So I’ve experienced the transition as a customs officer.

“I moved to Nadi airport and I served another 15 years at the Nadi International Airport before I moved to Lautoka.”

Mr Likuveiqali says he has enjoyed a fruitful career. Many of his job highlights relate to his work doing passenger processing in Nadi.

“I was the first FRCS staff to be awarded the employee of the month, apart from the 12 organisations that works at the airport. I did some courses with World Customs Organisation that moved me to look after all the inbound cargo around Fiji that comes through Nadi.

“They are checked through X-Ray and the dog unit before we release them but it’s so fortunate that during my term, I have had nine interceptions of drugs that we managed to hold on and persecute through the police.”

Mr Likuveiqali says the COVID-19 period was the most challenging time in his career.

He said during the pandemic, the manpower decreased but the cargo processing volume remained the same.

“A lot of staff members were made redundant, but the volume of cargo remained the same. And when the border opened, the volume doubled or tripled.”

With a number of youngsters coming in to join the organisation, Mr Likuveiqali says the onus lay on senior members to nurture them to take pride in their work.

“They are fresh out from the schools and tertiary level. It’s how you nurture them to become successful that matters. It reflects on your leadership.”

They are fresh out from the schools and tertiary level. It’s how you nurture them to become successful that matters. It reflects on your leadership .... Napolioni Likuveiqali