Independent Member of Parliament Ioane Naivalurua emphasized that the fight against drugs demands a vigorous and immediate response rather than a bureaucratic approach. He made this statement during the debate on the 2024-2025 Budget, advocating for the establishment of a Joint Select Committee for Parliamentary Oversight to review and evaluate the progress of the Coalition Government’s Counter Narcotics Strategy.
Naivalurua commended the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration for setting up a Narcotics Bureau but indicated that the drug situation has become critical, with drugs being easily accessible on the streets. He questioned whether the government’s efforts were commensurate with the crisis at hand.
In assessing the Budget, Naivalurua pointed out that the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 still required significant funding across various ministries involved as stakeholders. Although the launch of the strategy was a positive step, he raised several key questions:
1. Will the strategies in the document effectively disrupt the flow and use of drugs?
2. Does this send a clear message to syndicates looking to exploit Fiji’s borders and people?
3. Will it foster a national awareness that everyone must unite to combat the drug issue?
4. Will this help return Fiji to a state of safety and stability?