Fiji: New Police Commissioner expected to operationalise PM Rabuka’s strategic vision
Rusiate Tudravu has been appointed as Fiji’s new Commissioner of Police. A competitive process was undertaken through the Constitutional Offices Commission, which is chaired by Prime Minister Rabuka. The appointment will begin on 3 February 2025. Juki Fong Chew, who has been Acting Commissioner since 2022 (following the imprisonment of former Commissioner - and former Republic of Fiji Military Forces Brigadier - Sitiveni Qiliho) will continue as Deputy Commissioner. Former New Zealand Police Commissioner, Mike Bush, will act as an embedded advisor to Tudravu.
Assessment: Tudravu has served 39 years in the Fiji Police Force (FPF). He retired abruptly in 2021 after a short period as Acting Commissioner while Qiliho was studying overseas, and was serving as Chair of the Tailevu Provincial Council. As Acting Commissioner, Tudravu led the FPF through Fiji’s COVID-19 response, which managed to contain the virus in the initial stages due to strict border controls, contact tracing, and domestic movement control. Fiji has recently released several national strategy documents, including the National Defence and Security Report, which PM Rabuka will expect Tudravu to implement. Two primary goals are to rebuild trust with the wider community, including responsiveness, and to reduce the internal and external drug trade.
Sources: Netani Rika, “Tudravu Resigns from Fiji Police Force,” Islands Business, August 12, 2021; Navitalai Naivalurua, “Rusiate Tudravu is New COMPOL, Chew to Be Deputy COMPOL,” Fijivillage, December 18, 2024; Anish Chand, “Rusiate Tudravu Is the New Commissioner of Police,” The Fiji Times, December 18, 2024; Cheerieann Wilson, “Fiji’s Top Diplomats Begin 3-Day Meeting in Suva Today,” The Fiji Times, December 18, 2024.
