We have to save the country from the threat of drugs and the government is very concerned about the influx of hard drugs in the country where they have seen a rapid increase in drug use in schools and among the people.
This has been highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad while speaking during the Swami Vivekananda College’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Nadi.
Professor Prasad says we have to stop this immediately and we need to have everyone on board in the fight against drugs.
He says the government has set up a Fiji Counter Narcotics Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, a critical step in law enforcement, intelligence gathering and public awareness efforts.
The Deputy Prime Minister says this bureau will play a central role in tackling drug-related issues and coordinating with various stakeholders including government agencies, private sector agencies and civil society organisations.
He says they have also approved a counter-narcotics strategy for 2023-2028, focusing on reducing demand, supply and harm associated with drugs and it also includes legislative reforms, data collection and the establishment of a dedicated Drug Addiction Treatment Centre.
He also says beyond drugs, the government is also addressing violence among youth where efforts are aimed at creating safe environments for young people and providing them with the support that they need to thrive.
While addressing the students on the school’s 75th anniversary, Professor Prasad says they are not just the future, they are also the present of this country and how they behave, study, what they do on their way from home to school and on the way back home determines what happens today how their plans succeed.
He adds the College's legacy is not just its academic and extracurricular achievements, but also in the countless individuals who have been inspired and empowered by their experiences here.
Professor Prasad adds that the challenge now is to build on this legacy with a new, bigger, and more inclusive system so that students can excel, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the nation's progress.
Meanwhile, the school also buried a time capsule.
