District advisory councillors in Nausori have been instructed to identify “red spots” related to drug activities in their communities and report this information to the police. This directive was addressed during a meeting involving Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad, along with the Commissioner Central Division’s team and various agencies.
Professor Prasad noted the importance of regional intervention in tackling the ongoing illicit drug issue in the country. He emphasized the need for cooperation among parents, teachers, community leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders to effectively address the drug problem.
In addition to drug-related concerns, the meeting also covered topics such as drainage issues, maintenance of non-FRA roads, intermittent water supply, and increasing drug-related incidents. Other discussions included the challenges of school dropouts, violence against women, homelessness, enforcing the minimum wage of $4.50, managing garbage disposal costs, and operations at Nausori Health Center, as well as discussions regarding fertilizer subsidies and the Natovi jetty.
Businesses were reminded to comply with the new minimum wage legislation. Professor Prasad suggested the establishment of a regional inter-agency coordination to tackle the raised issues collaboratively and proposed regular meetings to ensure that matters are addressed promptly by the government.