Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua acknowledges the significant challenge ahead in Fiji’s battle against drugs.
Tikoduadua states that the National Counter Narcotics Strategy should have been rolled out about five years ago, but insists it is not too late for action.
Yesterday, Tikoduadua met with members of the newly-formed Counter Narcotics Bureau, an organization he asserts must remain incorruptible.
When questioned about potential corruption within the bureau, Tikoduadua acknowledged his responsibilities as minister.
“I cannot be entirely without blame,” he said. “This is my creation. If it fails, that’s my legacy. So, I’ve got to make sure it works.”
In an interview on The Lens@177, Tikoduadua recalled raising similar concerns in Parliament about Fiji’s escalating drug crisis.
“I would say that we face a much more challenging environment now than when I initially proposed combined parliamentary action, but it’s never too late,” he said. “It’s never too late to start anything. This Government has at least taken steps to address the issue. So, it’s never too late to begin working.”
Tikoduadua also appreciated contributions from Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, emphasizing that the strategy incorporates input from all faith-based organizations.
“This is a passion of the Archbishop, to address the root cause of the problem because drugs are a social issue,” said Tikoduadua. “This is a national effort, involving the entire nation, not just the government. If we do not address why our children are using drugs and why they are on the streets, it will be very hard to solve this problem.”
For the full episode of Tikoduadua’s interview, visit The Fiji Times’ Facebook page and YouTube channel tonight at 7 pm.