Lautoka residents call for united effort to tackle escalating drug problem and homelessness

Calls are being made by residents of Lautoka for the Government and communities to work together and solve the issue of drugs as people are moving away from marijuana but are going into hard drugs, which is a very sad situation.

Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association President, Narayan Reddy says more than 200 people can be found on the streets of Lautoka in the mornings, and the number is increasing.

Concerns have also been raised by the people of Lautoka as drug peddlers are seen everyday in the city area.

They say hard drug use in rife and they have also seen the increase in young girls, even of primary school age, involved in prostitution.

Narayan adds some of them have mental health issues because of drugs and the Government, especially the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection must look into this because there are more women on the streets of Lautoka compared to men.

Reddy says he finds it hard to believe that people in Fiji do not have homes because we all have families.

He says people, the business people of Lautoka, the Government, and NGOs need to work together and give these people the moral support they need.

The Association President says he has seen that people need encouragement, and ideas to do new things and to work things out.

He says that instead of giving free handouts, people should start encouraging them, get them a job and help them get back into the society.

The 2024/2025 National Budget will be delivered at 10am tomorrow.