The Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew, emphasized the critical importance of prioritizing children’s welfare following a report of a toddler found wandering alone on Laucala Beach Road in Nasinu. The child was taken to a nearby police station by two women who discovered him unattended.
Commissioner Chew assured that authorities would thoroughly investigate all incidents of child neglect. A request for the public’s assistance in identifying the toddler’s parents or guardians was posted on the police’s official Facebook page, leading to the child’s reunion with his family after the information went viral.
Chew highlighted that cases involving children are treated with great seriousness, especially concerning negligence which could lead to legal charges against parents or guardians. He noted that this is not an isolated case, revealing a troubling pattern in which children have suffered severe harm due to lack of supervision. Previous incidents include cases of children drowning, being burned, or run over by vehicles, all attributed to parental neglect.
The Commissioner appealed to parents and guardians to remain vigilant, as children are naturally curious and can find themselves in dangerous situations within seconds.
In addition, Assistant Minister for Children, Sashi Kiran, urged all caregivers to prioritize the safety of children and to be aware of their whereabouts. She highlighted the unfortunate case of a one-year-old boy from Naitonitoni, Navua, who died after being struck by a vehicle allegedly while wandering away from home unnoticed. Kiran acknowledged the challenges faced by nuclear families in urban areas regarding child care but stressed the necessity of ensuring that children are consistently supervised to prevent tragic incidents.