There are three significant stories highlighted on the front page of The Fiji Times for Thursday, September 12.
A UNICEF study reveals that children in families with absent parents, who are working overseas, are suffering the most. This study highlighted issues such as truancy, discipline, and mental health that arise from the physical distance between children and their migrant worker parents. While financial benefits from Pacific labor mobility schemes are evident, the study found that some families experience remittance gaps where financial support fails to reach caregivers and children.
Another alarming report indicates that secondary schools are becoming hotspots for illegal drug activity, with this trend apparent in both urban and remote schools.
The family of Shabreen Shain Ali, a 28-year-old woman found dead in a home in Raiwaqa, is calling for justice, believing she was brutally murdered. Anjila Wati Prasad, Ali’s mother, along with her sister, Sherim Kumar, stated that Ali’s face was unrecognizable, and identification was confirmed through a tattoo bearing her partner’s name on her arm.
Additionally, troubling issues have emerged regarding drug-related activities among students on Koro Island. It is concerning to learn that students have been found both possessing and dealing marijuana at school, a reality that reflects broader issues in the country. Tevita Vunileba, chairman of the Koro Island Crime Prevention Committee, revealed that teachers and police had previously identified and counseled these students, with some facing expulsion for their actions.
This problem is not isolated to Koro Island, with reports of students caught engaging with harder drugs emerging elsewhere. The ongoing drug issue has been escalating for several years, with Police chiefs previously warning about the potential growth of methamphetamine problems and the need for proactive measures.
The involvement of students in drug trafficking and substance abuse extends beyond local concerns and highlights a significant social issue that must not be overlooked. The community must remain vigilant and responsive to the adverse effects of drug problems.