Caption: Course participants with Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua and Agricultural officers celebrate after the certificate presentation in Suva.
By ATUNAISA SOKOMURI
Police officers attending the Life After Service Workshop at the Police Academy in Nasova were told never to give up in whatever they do after they retire by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua.
Speaking to the 40 officers from across all divisions at his residence , Brig- Gen Naivalurua said bee keeping was chosen to be a subject matter to the participants because it is very convenient and cheap to operate as an income generating business after retirement.
The officers were given the opportunity to visit bee hives at the Commissioners; residence and were given a guided tour by experts from the Ministry of Agriculture before being presented with certificates.
“ Most of you will be retiring soon and I am very happy that you took this bold step and your courage in attending this workshop..Anything can be achieved through hard work so don’t give up, he said.
“ I noticed when I joined the Force in 2010 that there was a weakness in the Force , and that was officers were not looking after the welfare of their men .The Fiji Police Force is a great organization but we need to look after our men, We need to improve the Fiji Police Force , improve us individually , improve our families , Brig Gen Naivalurua said.
More than 40 Police officers from across Fiji will over the officers had spent the last five days learning micro-income generating ventures envisaged to assist them after retirement.
An initiative by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Ioane Naivalurua to up-skill his senior officers with knowledge that will enable them to organise ventures and engage with resource persons, funding institutions, and stakeholders to develop a profitable and sustainable package for would be retirees.
The head of the organisation says his concern for the welfare of his officers goes beyond their life of service, adding the workshop will give those on the verge of retirement exposure to professional advice that will act as an interventionary and enlightening mechanism.
54 officers from the regular force will be retiring this year with another 52 earmarked for retirement next year.