THE inauguration of the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre (VMESC) in Lami, Fiji, marks a significant advancement in regional collaboration for maritime security in the Pacific.
This new facility enhances Fiji’s capabilities to protect its maritime domain while encouraging resilience among Pacific nations.
“Partnership between our government institutions to coordinate our maritime efforts and stand together, as Fijians, Australians, and Pacific Islanders, in the face of shared challenges,” Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, said at the opening ceremony.
“Partnership with our Pacific neighbours to develop this facility not only for Fiji but for our wider region to protect our shared blue Pacific.
“This building is a symbol of our enduring commitment to protect our maritime domain and safeguard our sovereignty.’’
He noted that the centre transcended a mere structure, serving as a hub for cooperation and embodying the spirit of the Vuvale partnership with Australia.
The VMESC will serve as Fiji’s central hub for maritime operations, housing critical agencies such as the Fiji Navy, the Fiji Hydrographic Office, and the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.
Rabuka said the VMESC would promote a more coordinated response to maritime security challenges.
“Together, we can act faster, share information more effectively, and respond more decisively. Together, we are stronger.”
As Fiji’s exclusive economic zone spans over 1.3 million square kilometres, the centre is vital for combating illegal fishing and transnational crime, ensuring the protection of the nation’s rich maritime resources.
“Our message to traffickers and illegal fishers is clear: we are watching you, and we will get you,” Rabuka said.
Expressing his gratitude towards the government and the people of Australia for their crucial investment and support.
“Your investment in this facility and for the purpose to which it will serve our region are deeply appreciated,” Rabuka said
The $AUD 83 million collaborative project employed over 1200 locals during its construction, showcasing a successful Vuvale partnership model.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence for Australia, Richard Marles, said the investment in the facility was one of the largest infrastructure investments that Australia has made anywhere in the world.
“Along with our investment in Black Rock, these are the two most significant investments that Australia has made in respect of Fiji,’’ he said.
“This is a contribution on the part of Australia to building the capability, providing for the national security of Fiji. But it is more than that, because we understand that Fiji’s security is very central to Australia’s security.’’
Marles acknowledged Fiji’s leadership within the Pacific in seeking and aspiring to have the Pacific as an ocean of peace.
“The Pacific is also the neighbourhood in which Australia lives. It is impossible to conceive of Australia’s security without, in the same breath, acknowledging the need for the security of the Pacific region,” he said.