The Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, has expressed his support for the reintroduction of the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking significant quantities of illegal drugs into Fiji. He made this remark during his visit to Koro Island on Tuesday.
The call for the death penalty originally came from Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, as a strategy to combat drug trafficking in the country. This proposal has sparked both support and criticism within the community.
Mr. Turaga endorsed Tabuya’s stance, commenting, “We do not want Fiji to become a breeding ground for such drugs. The emergence of a new drug, methamphetamine, is concerning, as it has been reported that users can go days without sleeping.”
He emphasized the need for collective action against the drug crisis, urging both the local community and religious organizations to engage in the fight, stating, “The Government cannot do it alone.”
However, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has voiced his disagreement with the idea of imposing the death penalty for drug-related offenses.
Additionally, Mr. Turaga acknowledged the ongoing issue of marijuana cultivation affecting Nasau Village in Mudu, Koro Island. Tui Nasau, Vonevate Vetaukula, shared that the village has established a crime committee to prevent cultivation activities and has referred individuals involved in illegal marijuana growing to the police.
Mr. Vetaukula noted that some offenders have already been incarcerated, while others are facing court proceedings. The village committee also monitors incoming vessels to prevent the transportation of illicit drugs to the capital, Suva.
He highlighted that the primary sources of income for the village include yaqona, dalo (taro), cassava, and vudi (plantain). Mr. Turaga cautioned villagers against the tolerance of any form of illegal drugs, stating that prompt reporting is essential to address the problem effectively.