District advisory councillors in Nausori have been urged to identify “red spots” for drug activity in their regions and relay that information to the police. This directive was highlighted during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad and the Commissioner Central Division’s team along with relevant agencies.
Professor Prasad emphasized the importance of regional intervention in addressing the country’s ongoing illicit drug challenges. He called for collaboration among parents, teachers, community leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders to tackle the drug problem effectively.
Furthermore, discussions at the Commissioner Central’s Office also covered various concerns, including drainage issues, the upkeep of non-FRA roads, inconsistent water supply, and the rising occurrences of illegal drugs. Other significant topics discussed by Professor Prasad included school dropouts, violence against women, homelessness, the enforcement of minimum wage laws, waste management costs, the operation of Nausori Health Center, fertilizer subsidy issues, and the Natovi jetty.
Businesses were encouraged to comply with the newly established minimum wage rate of $4.50. Professor Prasad proposed the creation of a regional inter-agency coordination body to address the concerns raised by stakeholders and line agencies during the forum. He stressed the necessity of holding regular meetings to ensure that issues are properly coordinated and resolved promptly by the Government.