As concerns over drugs and criminal activity continue to affect parts of the Nabua Muslim League Settlement, community leaders say they are taking a proactive approach by counselling youths and working closely with families before involving police.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Chairman of Nabua Muslim League Settlement Zone 1, Asaeli Joji Tamanitoakula, says that while cases involving drugs do occur within the community, residents have established a system of by-laws aimed at addressing issues at the community level before they escalate.
Tamanitoakula says the settlement is divided into seven zones, all operating under the same set of by-laws that guide how community issues, including youth offending and drug-related concerns, are handled.
He says when young people are caught engaging in inappropriate behaviour, community leaders first call them in for counselling sessions and discussions involving family members.
Insert: Tamanitoakula - Counseling first June 05
According to Tamanitoakula, the goal is to correct behaviour and provide guidance before cases are referred to law enforcement authorities.
He says many people involved in drugs often hide their activities, making it difficult for residents and community leaders to detect the problem early.
Tamanitoakula says parents and guardians are regularly encouraged to monitor their children and steer them away from individuals involved in criminal activity.
He stresses that while the law remains available to deal with offenders, community leaders believe early intervention and counselling can help prevent young people from ending up in the criminal justice system.
The settlement leader also believes the planned relocation of families from the area could bring positive change for residents.
He says overcrowding, illegal dumping and concerns over crime have affected the settlement for years, despite efforts by authorities to provide rubbish disposal facilities and improve living conditions.
Tamanitoakula says some residents continue to dump rubbish into nearby creeks instead of using the bins provided, contributing to environmental and health concerns within the community.
He believes relocation and redevelopment could help address some of these longstanding challenges and provide families with a cleaner and safer environment.
Meanwhile, concerns about drugs in the settlement have previously been raised publicly.
In 2020, fijivillage News reported that a 59-year-old resident claimed he had received threats after speaking out during a community meeting about the alleged sale of marijuana and public drug use within the settlement.
