Opposition admits shortcomings in tackling drug crisis and calls for independent Narcotics Bureau

Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruitatu says they in the previous government were probably overconfident in what they were doing to tackle the drugs issue and the pending work that needed to be done.

When questioned by the media during a press conference on whether they could have handled the drugs problem better, Seruiratu says they could have probably done better as well.

Seruitatu says that they were given advice on what they were doing and what things are in progress.

When questioned by fijivillage News if he admits that it was the wrong position, Seruitatu says it's up to interpretation.

He also says he convinced Drug Free World Fiji founder Kalesi Volatabu to come to Fiji when he met her in Brisbane and says she is doing an excellent job.

Seruiratu says if drugs are the biggest threat we are facing apart from climate change, then the effort and the resources must be allocated accordingly so that the Narcotics Bureau can take off and address the issue.

Opposition MP Jone Usamate says the volume of drugs coming to this part of the world is not the same.

He says we are right on the edge of the big markets in Australia, New Zealand, and people are using submersibles and all kinds of different strategies to get the drugs.

Usamate says when the volume goes up, the parameters and the methods that used to counter it has to change and he believes that this is what the government is trying to do now, to evolve that according to the situation again.

He also says the Narcotics Bureau that comes under the Ministry of Defence needs to be independent.