Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu says the issue of drugs has now become a matter of national concern.
While opposing the 2025/2026 National Budget, Seruiratu says it is no longer a secret and the severity of the issue was recently highlighted in the media, where young boys were seen injecting themselves with what appeared to be drugs - an alarming reflection of the current situation.
He says that in certain areas of Suva, drugs are being sold openly on the roadside, with individuals becoming increasingly bold in their dealings, and the influx of hard drugs has only worsened the situation.
The Leader of the Opposition says the government’s efforts to combat drug use and trafficking in Fiji are commendable, but some areas need to be approached differently.
Seruiratu says the government should consider strengthening educational and awareness frameworks at all levels of the community to better inform citizens about the impacts of drug use.
He adds that another concern is the rise in HIV cases as a consequence of drug use, where in the first half of 2024 alone, the number of new HIV cases reported by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council was 500, already exceeding the total of 415 reported for the entire year in 2023.
Seruiratu adds this is a panic budget and therefore he does not support the budget.
He stresses that the 2025–2026 National Budget should focus on critical national issues, with poverty as the top priority.
The Opposition Leader says according to the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 29.9 percent of Fiji’s total population live below the poverty line, and one of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.
He says the question we should now be asking ourselves, both as a government and as a nation, is, what are we doing about this.
Seruiratu says that poverty reduction requires a multifaceted approach that includes both immediate relief and long-term solutions.
He says it is important for governments to prioritise this to accelerate the reduction of high poverty levels.
He adds that while investments in education, welfare, and healthcare are good first steps, building partnerships with communities, non-government and civil society organisations, and the private sector can be highly effective in tackling poverty.
