Committee enhances Partnership to Coordinate High Level Visits

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the President and the British High Commission earlier this week held an After Action Review meeting with the Inter Agency Coordination Committee (IACC) to discuss lessons learned from their joint organizing of the Official Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Fiji last month.

It also provided an opportunity for the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Official Secretary of the Office of the President and the British High Commissioner to say thank you to the key stakeholders who worked hard behind the scenes to make the visit a success.

The Official Royal Visit planning, preparation and execution was undertaken by the personnel from the following 25 agencies:

British High Commission, Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and National Security, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force, Ministry of itaukei Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Education and Heritage, Ministry of Women and Children, Department of Information, Commissioner Central Division, Commissioner Western Division, Suva City Council, Fiji Airports Ltd Nausori, Fiji Airways, Fiji Airports Ltd Nadi, Grand Pacific Hotel, University of the South Pacific, Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Department of Immigration and UN Women.

During the After Action Review (AAR) Meeting, the IACC members reflected on lessons learned to capture for inclusion in the review of agency-specific Standard Operating Procedures and more importantly, enhance the National Standard Operating Procedure for organising such visits in future.

The IACC members were also recognised through the presentation of commendation certificates. The Official Royal Visit IACC had worked in accordance with the shared vision to host a Safe, Successful and Memorable Royal Visit.

Speaking at the IACC AAR meeting, the British High Commissioner Her Excellency Melanie Hopkins thanked all the Royal Visit IACC members for their commitment and team work. She in particular acknowledged the strong leadership of the Permanent Secretary, Major General (Ret’d) Ioane Naivalurua who chaired the Royal Visit Interagency Coordinating Committee.

PS Foreign Affairs, Mr Naivalurua also acknowledged the role of British High Commission and all the stakeholders for their collaborative support. He said it was important to review the current processes to incorporate the lessons learnt and reflect the consolidated strategies to improve the National Standard Operating Procedure which will guide IACC when planning for any high level visits to be hosted by Fiji in the future.

Mr Naivalurua said that multisectoral cooperation between agencies is the foundation to enhance the plans and level of coordination required while hosting the high level diplomatic visits to Fiji.