Condition of barracks issue raised

POOR accommodation facilities and lack of adequate space are two of the many reasons Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua says he will use to demand improved living conditions for those who look after and protect the people.

He said this after the issue of police officers’ accommodation was raised during a talanoa session at the Vunidawa Police Station on Tuesday.

Spokesman of the Turaga na Taukei ni Waluvu, Josefa Seli, said the issue had been raised at several Naitasiri Provincial Council meetings, but nothing had been done thus far.

“These officers cannot be outrightly honest about the condition of the barracks they’ve been living in,” he said.

“It has been raised several times during Naitasiri Provincial Council meetings that we are asking for the barracks to be upgraded.

“They should be renovated to a proper government barracks so that officers are happy when they get assigned here.”

Mr Seli also said there was a need to have a separate quarters for station officer Inspector Alisi Wainikoula.

Ms Wainikoula, while showing Mr Tikoduadua around the station, said her office was also used by officers to conduct interviews of suspects.

“I have been receiving these complaints and one thing I have been saying is the importance of looking after the welfare of police officers,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

“I am aware that the station is small in comparison to the increase in population within this area and the number of officers assigned to this station, so there is a need to make it bigger.

“But since it is a capital project, it will require proper planning if none is already in place.

“In fact, I will be demanding that a fair share of our national budget to go into looking after the people and making the conditions of work for those that look after us and protect us to be improved.”

Mr Tikoduadua called on the officers to be understanding if their requests took some time to be fulfilled.

“Hopefully, we can see that come into fruition sooner rather than later, but I implore on your perseverance and on your sense of understanding that it will take a bit of time for all your requests to be met.”

At present, there are 32 officers assigned to the Vunidawa Police Station.