3FIR TO MOVE FROM NABUA TO NABORO
THE NEW SITE OVERLOOKS THE SEA AND IS CLOSE TO 200 ACRES OF LAND The original headquarters at Queen Elizabeth Barracks was destroyed in a fire in December 2021
Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has revealed plans by the RFMF to relocate its 3FIR headquarters to a 200 acre land in Naboro.
The Third Battalion of Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR) headquarters formerly at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua was completely destroyed in a fire in the early morning of December 24, 2021.
Since then, it has not been rebuilt. “It overlooks the sea and is close to 200 acres of land that we are looking at. It is native land and we are currently in very close consultations with the mataqali there,” he said.
He could not reveal finer details of the plan but said that it was work in progress at the moment.
“We have been given the green light by our defence partners in terms of the plans, it’s just a matter of us looking at the infrastructure, how we do it and who is going to be responsible for which particular part of that camp. “Those are still in the discussion phase, when we meet for our DCP Defence Corporation Partners talks then we will start finalising all of this.” He said they were trying to set up a new headquarters for the 3FIR that included the range itself.
“We are doing this with the agreement with our defence partners and we will be able to disclose more information about it as we go along.”
He added that their focus at the moment was currently on its Naval HQ
that was currently being constructed in Lami.
“Once that is completed then we will move into the other projects. We want to have the new Navy HQ completed by early 2024.”
Hospital, Dining area at Blackrock
Major-General Ro Jone also confirmed that the newly built hospital at its Blackrock camp in Nadi was now up and running.
“I am very happy as the Ministry of Health has provided us with a lot of specialised doctors and nurses so they are complimenting the hospital at Blackrock,” he said.
“It is not only at Blackrock it is something we are looking at for the whole of the RFMF, in terms of the medical capabilities as you understand we deploy a medical team as well into the middle east so our partnership with the Ministry of Health is something that we hold very dearly too as we continue this work together in terms of our medical facilities.”
He said the dining area at the camp in Nadi was in its final stages with final touch-ups to the kitchen being made. “I’m sure before the end of this quarter it shall be up and running.”