Concerns raised about child trafficking and foreign preaching during Immigration Act review

Suggestions are being made for parents to verify who their children are travelling overseas with to prevent human trafficking.

This concern was raised by a Fijian citizen during a public consultation on the review of the Immigration Act, the Citizenship of Fiji Act, and the Passports Act in Rakiraki.

The man says that if minors are being trafficked overseas, the accompanying adults might falsely claim to be the child's cousin.

He suggests that a consent letter from the parents should be required to confirm the relationship.

The man says this could be a solution to preventing minors from being trafficked out of the country.

He also raised concerns about how individuals on visitor visas are allowed to preach their religion in Fiji.

He says that this could be problematic for some people.

The man says that a group of people are currently preaching in the country, with residents of Nausori permitting this, while those in the Western Division have not.

He questioned whether visitors on tourist visas should be allowed to preach in the country

The public consultation continues, with the team scheduled to be at the Ex-servicemen Hall in Suva today, the Nadi Civic Centre tomorrow and Friday, the Sigatoka Sai Hall on Saturday, Suvavou House next Tuesday, the Parish Hall in Nausori next Wednesday, and the Suva Civic Centre on 2nd September.