Miss Rakiraki Market Vendors Association Sonia Prasad has been crowned the Miss Vodafone Rakiraki while Vani Tobakarakarawa is the Miss Vodafone Sugar.
Prasad is encouraging the community of Ra to refrain from using drugs and report drug-related cases immediately as drugs has many negative impacts associated with it.
The Miss Rakiraki says people should reach out to their family and friends when they require help on any issues affecting their mental health.
Prasad also acknowledged her family and sponsors who have helped her tirelessly in this journey.
While officiating the crowning ceremony, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya says the Ministry receives daily reports on children under the age of 18 involved in drugs.
Tabuya says youths are the heartbeats of our nation and the driving force that will carry us to the future and we need to protect the young minds.
She says we can’t ignore the challenges they face such as stress which leaves them lonely but we need to ensure there are resources to guide them.
The Minister adds parents, guidance, community and community-based leaders need to ensure they are talking to the children about the issues they are facing so they don’t take the help of drugs for their problems.
Meanwhile, the theme for Rakiraki Carnival was “Empowering Youths, Protecting our future, Drug-free starts with me”.
