No parties, grog order
POLICE Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho has issued strict instructions for no grog drinking or Christmas parties to be held at police institutions around the country during this festive season.
Chief operations officer Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Maretino Qiolevu said the directive from Brig-Gen Qiliho was issued to protect officers and their families from the measles outbreak.
ACP Qiolevu said about 90 per cent of the Fiji Police Force had been vaccinated along with their families.
“We are being careful and we know this festive season there is convergence of people and that is why there will be no grog consumption in police institutions including barracks,” he said.
“We are only taking our cue from the
Ministry of Health, so Christmas parties have been held off within police facilities.
“We need to be protected first in order to carry out our duties effectively and efficiently and we need to conform to the health advice.”
Last week, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete directed health teams administering measles vaccinations to complete their work by midnight Christmas Eve.
“It is my hope and prayer that no Fijians will die from this measles outbreak,” he said.
“I have advised the taskforce that they must finish vaccinating the target group by midnight of Christmas Eve so that on Christmas Day, this nation can truly celebrate Christmas.
“We will leave no Fijians behind, we will reach the unreached and our taskforce is run by daughters and sons of this land, not overseas people.”