Concerns that drugs are being sold openly and used by young people in Tailevu have sparked serious questions over what authorities are doing to stop the growing problem, as village elders and parents say years of counselling has failed to bring it under control.
The issue was raised during the Fijian Media Association Town Hall Forum in Korovou, where fijivillage News Director and Executive Member of FMA, Vijay Narayan highlighted concerns received from people in Tailevu.
Narayan says one of the biggest issues raised is the availability and use of drugs, with claims that drugs are being sold openly and used by the younger generation.
He also highlighted concerns raised by the Turaga ni Koro of Nauluvatu Village, who says drug abuse has reached a stage where village elders and parents can no longer control the problem despite years of counselling.
Concerns were also raised that drug dealers from outside Tailevu are now staying in communities and ensuring their drug trade continues to thrive.
While responding to this, Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga says one of the major policies endorsed by the Coalition Government was the Anti-Narcotics Strategy because there were major gaps in dealing with the issue.
Turaga says an Anti-Narcotics Bill is currently with the Attorney-General’s Office and is expected to be tabled in Parliament in August.
He says a Police Bill is also currently before the relevant parliamentary committee.
Turaga says the fight against drugs cannot be left to the Government alone, and traditional leaders, churches and communities must also come on board.
He says a joint operation involving the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Police has helped, while an operations centre was also endorsed in Suva for agencies to work together on a long-term response to the drug problem.
When pressed on concerns that drugs are being sold openly, Turaga says nothing was done by the previous government.
Insert: Turaga on previous government 5th July 26
He says people are now openly discussing the issue and churches, and traditional leaders are also promoting anti-drug messages among young people.
He says there have also been strong calls for the death penalty, but this would have to be considered against constitutional protections, including the right to life.
Opposition Leader and former Defence Minister Inia Seruiratu has rejected Turaga’s claim that nothing was done by the previous government.
Seruiratu says the drug issue has existed in Fiji for a long time and the previous government took steps to combat it.
He says an Anti-Narcotics Bureau had been in the pipeline for some time, but the legislation needed to support its functions was not in place.
Seruiratu says the previous government also tried to separate the anti-drug unit from the wider Fiji Police Force because of allegations of corruption within the force.
When questioned directly on whether he was aware of Fiji’s drug problem while serving as the responsible minister, Seruiratu says he was aware through special Police drug briefings.
Insert: Seruiratu on aware 5th July 26
He says these briefings were provided to the Police Commissioner and, on some occasions, to the Prime Minister and the responsible minister because of the sensitive nature of the information.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Meli Sateki says Police are dealing with the war against drugs through two main areas, proactive awareness and responding to information received from communities.
Sateki says one of the major challenges is cooperation between Police and members of the community.
He says drug cases eventually have to be presented in court and Police cannot take incomplete cases forward without enough evidence to satisfy all the required elements.
Sateki is calling on the Vanua, Lotu, neighbourhoods and villages to work closely with Police and provide credible information.
He says Police will continue to investigate reports of drug activity and are not shying away from their responsibility.
Sateki says anyone who is unhappy with how a drug-related report has been handled at the Korovou Police Station can escalate the matter through the Police 1681 call centre, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
