Fijian Media Association meet the public and the press

9 tonnes of marijuana with a street value of $79 million was uprooted across the country, and 4.9kg of methamphetamine worth $2.4 million was seized by Police between March and May this year.

This was revealed by Acting Police Commissioner Aporosa Lutunauga during the Fijian Media Association's Meet the Public and the Press session held in Savusavu.

Lutunauga says that while police managed to locate and uproot marijuana farms, in most cases they could not identify the landowners.

He is now calling on the public to assist in identifying those behind the illegal operations.

He also confirmed that proceeds of crime were seized as part of ongoing investigations.

The Acting Commissioner urged villages to set up crime prevention committees in partnership with police to identify illegal selling of liquor.

ACP Lutunauga says he understands this is a dangerous situation, but we need to keep Fiji safe for the future of our generation, and we need to put these drugs at a stop right now.

ACP Lutunauga was responding to a concern by Savusavu resident Ulamila Toroki who raised concerns on what is happening in the village nowadays with drugs and liquor being abused.

She says before, drinking in the village was forbidden and now, people are drinking from Saturday and throughout Sunday and are disturbing Sunday services.

Toroki is concerned that she came back to Fiji after being away for more than 20 years and has seen such activities being practiced by our people.

Divisional Medical Officer Northern, Dr. Tiko Saumalua has confirmed that they are currently facing stockouts of medications, including those for high blood pressure at hospitals in the Northern Division.

While responding to concerns raised by Savusavu resident Graham Haynes during the Fijian Media Association’s Meet the Public and the Press session in Savusavu, Dr. Saumalua acknowledged that the shortages can last one to two months and affect a range of medications.

Haynes, who has been actively supporting local hospitals, says they recently brought in 36 beds for hospitals in Savusavu, Lau, and Tukavesi due to poor supply conditions.

He raised alarm over the lack of essential items like Ventolin inhalers and saline solution, saying the community has had to purchase and donate them, spending around $1,000 in some cases.

He says this should not be happening and asks what is wrong with the supply chain between Suva and our hospitals.

Dr. Saumalua explained that the Ministry uses an M-supply system to track stock levels across health facilities, allowing low-stock centres to request supplies either from nearby facilities or from the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (FPBS) in Suva.

However, he admitted that procurement delays at FPBS remain a challenge.

He says many of these supplies are imported, so it takes time to reach their stores.

He adds that when such stockouts occur, medical staff try to manage patients with alternative treatments.

On the issue of the x-ray machine at Savusavu Hospital, Dr. Saumalua says that while a replacement machine was temporarily installed, it too became non-functional, and they are now awaiting a new one.

Indecent insulting or annoying any female, rape, and indecent assault remain the top three reported sexual offences in the Northern Division, with 203 cases in 2022, 157 cases in 2023, and 132 cases last year.

This was revealed by Acting Commissioner of Police Aporosa Lutunauga when questioned on gender based violence and services available during the Fijian Media Association's Meet the Public and the Press session held in Savusavu.

A Savusavu resident says there are so many incidents of gender based violence behind closed doors in villages and even in the town.

She says national data shows that nearly two-thirds of women in Fiji have experienced physical or sexual violence which is 64 percent of women.

She also says it is also high and if not, even higher in Savusavu.

ACP Lutunauga says in Savusavu alone, police recorded 20 cases of sexual offences in 2022, 34 in 2023, and 28 cases last year.

He says as part of the Fiji Police Force’s restructure and reform plan, there are ongoing efforts to establish a Family Protection Unit.

He further says this Unit will be set up to ensure women can report cases in privacy and have them handled appropriately.

He adds that the new Unit will cover cases related to sexual offences and matters under the Juveniles Act.

The FMA Meet the Public and the Press will be held in Labasa at 7pm tonight at the Fiji Football Association Conference Room.

Please get the venue by 6pm to 6.30pm to get your seats.

The forum will also be livestreamed on our website, fijivillage from 7pm tonight.

As serious concerns are being raised about a compromised Fiji Police Force, including the newly formed Narcotics Bureau, Acting Police Commissioner Aporosa Lutunauga has confirmed that they are in the process of cleaning up the organisation with the new Commissioner.

While speaking during the Fijian Media Association's Meet the Public and the Press session in Labasa, Lutunauga says they have identified the officers involved and have systems and processes within the Force through which these officers have been charged and taken to court.

He says they have also appointed an Assistant Commissioner of Police for Internal Affairs and Professional Standards to show that they are sincere in their efforts.

While highlighting that nine tonnes of marijuana worth $79 million have been uprooted, and 4.9kg of methamphetamine and cocaine valued at $2.4 million have been seized over the last 3 months, Lutunauga confirms that a fusion centre is being developed to coordinate all agencies combating drug crimes.

He is urging the public to share information to help identify offenders.

Lutunauga adds that the fourth wave of Operation Sasamaki is underway, and they will continue to dismantle, disrupt, and destroy drug farms in Fiji.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says they are also in the process of reviewing the laws so that penalties and the process of dealing with offenders swiftly are being addressed.

He says he announced a number of measures in the 2025–2026 National Budget, including new requirements for sole traders to declare their assets to ensure there is no illicit wealth derived from drugs.

Professor Prasad says they have also provided additional funding of $40 million for the recruitment of more police officers.

He further states that all containers arriving from overseas will now undergo full x-ray screening as part of efforts to detect and prevent the smuggling of drugs and other illicit items into the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister says these issues are being addressed at the border, within the Police Force, and across different agencies such as FRCS, Customs, and Immigration.

He says this is why people are now being caught and drug busts are occurring.

Thousands of people around the world had a minute of silence during the Fijian Media Association Meet the Public and the Press last night to pay tribute to a pioneer in Fijian music, George 'Fiji' Veikoso, who passed away yesterday afternoon.

The minute of silence was observed before the Meet the Public and the Press session in Labasa and livestreamed across 10 media platforms.

Before the minute of silence, Communications Fiji Limited News Director, FMA executive and co-moderator, Vijay Narayan said George was a beloved son of Fiji, a powerful voice for Pacific music and a source of pride for here and overseas.

Veikoso was born in Buretu, Tailevu in 1970.

He started singing young at church with his family.

His uncle, Sakiusa Bulicokocoko, inspired him to pursue music.

According to IMDB, Fiji's political unrest in 1987 led him to move to Hawaii, where he began shaping the sound of the Pacific.

He made his solo debut with 'Evolution' in 1994.

His next album, 'Born & Raised', became an instant favourite in the region.

Hits like 'Lia' and 'Good Thing' remain popular.

Veikoso also co-wrote the theme for 'Baywatch: Hawaii' from 1999 to 2001 and acted in the movie 'Blue Crush' (2002).

He created a blend of Polynesian, Fijian, reggae, and R&B styles. His achievements include Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Male Vocalist and Favourite Entertainer, 1998), Pacific Music Awards (Best Pacific International Artist, 2014) and Lifetime Achievement Award (Pacific Music Awards, 2021).

His collaboration on the "Island Warriors" compilation album also earned a Grammy-nomination for Best Reggae Album.

By 2023, his songs had been played more than 500 million times on music streaming platforms.

Despite ongoing health struggles, he organised 'Homecoming Fiji' concerts and performed until close to his final days. The organizers of Homecoming say as we take this moment to honour George's life and legacy, they ask for your patience and understanding at this difficult time.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says there should be no excuse for drug shortages at any health facility, and he will be taking up concerns raised in Labasa about the continued lack of essential medication with the Minister for Health.

This comes after the Northern Divisional Medical Officer, Dr Tiko Saumalua confirmed during Fijian Media Association's Meet the Public and the Press session in Savusavu that there are ongoing shortages of medical supplies and basic medication, including antibiotics and blood pressure drugs.

While responding to questions in the Labasa session on how effective the medicine supply system is in the Northern Division, Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Health has adequate funding, and the government has taken a number of steps to improve supply.

He says for the first time, a bulk storage facility has been opened at Labasa Hospital to cater for health centres, nursing stations and subdivisional hospitals across Vanua Levu.

The Deputy Prime Minister says a consistent issue has been the shortage of medicines in other parts of the country as well, but the government is tackling this head on.

He says the new mSupply system now allows doctors and nurses to inform headquarters in real time about the stock levels and supply needs.

Professor Prasad also revealed that the government has signed a new pharmacopoeia agreement with the Government of India to enable more consistent and affordable drug imports, which have already begun.

He says India has become a key pharmaceutical supplier to major countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and Fiji had not tapped into that market until now.

He confirms that Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has travelled to India twice to finalise these agreements, including a government-to-government arrangement to ensure consistency in supply and lower medicine costs.

While responding to another question about why medicines are still not available despite budget allocations, Professor Prasad admitted that clearly something is not working.

A man who has been living with HIV for the past 18 years is calling on the government to appoint a dedicated doctor to care for people living with HIV in the Northern Division.

While speaking at the Fijian Media Association’s Meet the Public and the Press session in Labasa, Temo Sasau highlighted that while his check-ups are done in Suva, it is not by choice but due to the unavailability of a specific HIV doctor in the North.

He says while the Hub Clinic in the Northern Division is doing great work, the increase in HIV cases needs urgent attention and specialised care.

Sasau says he is the only person in the North who is public about his HIV status and is requesting for a doctor who specifically looks after people living with HIV.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad acknowledged the request and assured Sasau that the matter would be looked into.

Professor Prasad further says for the first time, the government has formally recognised the rise in HIV cases and allocated $10 million to address the issue, while the New Zealand government has provided an additional $5.4 million.

In a related question, concerns were raised with Acting Commissioner of Police Aporosa Lutunauga on the issue of rising HIV rates being linked to injectable drug use and there being reports, photos and videos of people publicly injecting drugs in the main cities and towns.

ACP Lutunauga says they have responded to some of the calls that have come in from the urban areas.

He says the police now have special operations targeting those specific locations where such activities were previously reported and members of the community have seen people gathering and using needles.

He says they have identified these as hotspot areas, and are now actively patrolling them.

When questioned on what number people in the Northern Division can call, Lutunauga says they can contact the Crime Stoppers line on 919 or the Northern Division Command Centre on 9905722 if they see drug use happening publicly or they know of any drug related activities.