The Minister for Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation, Lynda Tabuya, is advocating for the imposition of the death penalty on drug traffickers who are apprehended with significant quantities of drugs.
In a recent media briefing, Tabuya highlighted that Fiji is increasingly being used as a transit hub for drug trafficking destined for other markets. She emphasized the pressing need to enhance legal measures to secure the nation’s borders and safeguard its citizens.
Her concerns were particularly directed at the alarming accessibility of drugs within communities, affecting both adults and children. She stated that the societal harm caused by drug usage far outweighs any economic gains from drug sales.
Tabuya called for stronger deterrents, including the death penalty, to discourage traffickers and drug lords from conducting illicit activities in Fiji. She believes that implementing harsher penalties could significantly diminish the drug trade and its negative impact on the nation.
Fiji has a history regarding the death penalty. In 2015, the FijiFirst Government accepted 98 out of 138 recommendations for ratifying the UN Convention Against Torture, with 12 already implemented at that time. The country abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1979 and for all crimes in 2015, with the last execution happening in 1964.
The nation reaffirmed its dedication to promoting and protecting universal human rights principles. The adoption of Fiji’s Constitution in 2013 established fundamental rights and introduced a comprehensive Bill of Rights. Furthermore, the then Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, stated that the Parliament had passed a bill to eliminate references to the death penalty in military laws, effectively removing it from all national legislation.