Drug packages have been reported washing up on the shores of islands in Lau, according to Vani Catanasiga, the executive director of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS). Catanasiga indicated that these packages are believed to originate from yachts and fishing vessels.
“There have been reports of yachts docking at secluded beaches,” she noted.
Additionally, a youth leader from one of the Lau islands has expressed concerns regarding the use of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, among the island’s youth. He has been actively encouraging his peers to participate in community work rather than resorting to drugs.
Catanasiga mentioned that some local youth have become desensitized to the issues affecting their home island, openly discussing the drug problem. She attributes this situation to the insufficient presence of government agencies in the region.
“I believe there are urgent matters that need to be addressed regarding the social issues facing these maritime islands,” she stated.