Close to 100 students, including those from primary schools in Fiji, have been reported selling themselves for sex on the dark web. Alice Fong, Divisional Counsellor for the Ministry of Education in the Western Division, disclosed this concerning information during a speech at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka.
Additionally, students in the school system have been observed transitioning from the use of suki and cigarettes to marijuana, according to Josua Naisele, Acting Director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council.
In another matter, the ongoing issue of road accidents in Fiji raises pressing questions about addressing this challenge, which continues to result in injuries and fatalities. Recently, five individuals narrowly escaped serious injury in a truck accident near Emuri in Nadroga. The accident occurred on the Queens Highway when one truck driver lost control and overturned, colliding with another truck.
Both drivers were transported to Lautoka Hospital, while three passengers were treated and released from Sigatoka Hospital.
The World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 indicates a slight decrease in annual road traffic deaths to 1.19 million. The findings suggest that efforts to improve road safety are yielding results, but warn that the consequences of mobility remain excessively high. Road traffic injuries are particularly lethal for children and young adults aged 5 to 29, with a significant portion of fatalities occurring among vulnerable road users in low and middle-income countries.
The report stresses the need for urgent action to meet the global goal of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. This raises concerns about the apparent decline of common courtesy on the roads.
During peak traffic hours, there are frequent instances of poor driving behavior, such as drivers, including bus operators, using the right lane to bypass traffic and turn left into oncoming lanes, which leads to unsafe conditions. Similarly, other drivers frequently disregard marked lanes, further contributing to congestion and potential hazards.
Drivers are also called upon to practice patience and show courtesy, such as using turn signals and yielding to traffic. Additionally, speaking on mobile phones while driving is a concern that needs to be addressed.
Calls are being made for the acting Police Commissioner and traffic authorities to reinstate police motorcyclist visibility during busy hours to enforce rules and improve safety. Furthermore, there is an urgent request to fix road markings to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place, as many drivers rely on memory of the roads instead of clear signage.
Overall, prioritizing road safety can help save lives, encouraging all road users to remain vigilant.