Fiji Embassy Washington public diplomacy programme captures attention and yielded positive results in Washington recently.The Embassy displayed traditional artifacts, informational publications, and provided traditional dancers, singers, and Fiji cuisine to over 800 guests from the public and private sector who attended Washington’s premier Pacific cultural event called PACIFIC NIGHT held at the National Geographical Society HQ in Washington.
As a result of the Embassy’s success at the Pacific Night officials of RONCO Consulting Corporation (1) , an international professional services firm based in Washington, D.C. approached the Embassy and discussed with the Charge d’ Affaires Mr Peni Lomaloma the possible recruitment of security personnel from Fiji.
Paul Brown, Director, Canine Services, and Isaac Evans, Director, Security Services, both of RONCO Consulting Corporation explained that from personal experience in Iraq they were well aware of the skills of Fiji Service personnel. They would therefore like to explore the possibility of including some Fiji security personnel in their company data base for future deployments all over the world. They emphasized that no contracts were yet available as of now but they would like to assemble a database of names of Fiji security personnel that they can call upon at short notice for duties in the future.
Mr Lomaloma explained that RONSON has made the right choice in selecting Fiji given Fiji’s vast pool of experienced, highly trained, motivated, battle tested security personnel that fits all the RONSON prerequisite. Fiji Service personnel have served in international peace missions in all parts of the world and should they be selected they will be going into areas where they have served before. Fiji Service personnel have been trained in overseas military academies at all levels of command. They are therefore highly trained and can fit in easily with the personnel, procedures and equipments of those they will be working with at RONSON.
Fiji Embassy Washington is now working with RONSON on identifying suitable local security firms the Company can liaise with on its request.
In another positive fruit of the Embassy and their family and supporters community outreach effort Friends of Fiji, a US non-profit 501c(3) organization of ex-Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers which supports a portfolio of projects in Fiji has responded positively and given a cheque to be used in a community project in Fiji.(1) RONCO currently specializes in humanitarian and commercial mine action and ordnance disposal, security assistance, canine detection services, and specialized training and operates in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and Sudan. Their portfolio of clients for which they have provided a range of services includes: the U.S. Department of State; U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Agency for International Development; United Nations; World Bank; NATO; NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency; Canadian, British, German, and Japanese governments; and commercial firms.
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