Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS), Queen Victoria School (QVS), and the local communities in Tailevu North to unite with the Government in combating the rise of narcotics in Fiji.
During his address at the RKS Centennial celebration held at Albert Park in Suva, he highlighted that city cleaners discovered drug-related evidence in trash collected on Sunday morning following the Hibiscus Festival.
“I mentioned this in my statement on Saturday night at the Hibiscus. I hope that when the city cleaners tidy up the venue tomorrow morning, including other areas along the Suva foreshore, no evidence of drug use will be found,” Mr. Rabuka stated.
He recounted that while on his way to community service last Sunday morning, he requested the police to inspect the refuse at the festival site, which led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia.
“We must begin as a community and work together to combat this negative influence in our society. We should focus on the smaller groups we belong to, and I believe the Lodoni/RKS community can make a significant impact,” he emphasized.
Mr. Rabuka expressed his sincere hope that RKS will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and character, nurturing exemplary citizens who will contribute positively to Fiji’s future.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACP) Livai Driu confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, marijuana, and syringes in areas surrounding the festival venues.
“We can verify the use of syringes as we have found several discarded ones in the vicinity, particularly near Nabukalou creek, behind Village 6 cinema, and the Bowling Club,” ACP Driu noted.
He mentioned that some individuals are currently in custody as police found syringes around the festival locations. Concerns were raised about the lack of public reporting regarding syringe usage, which poses significant risks as people engage with these syringes in various, potentially harmful ways.