The towns of Labasa and Savusavu on Vanua Levu are facing significant issues regarding mentally challenged individuals who have become a public nuisance. Many of these individuals are homeless or abandoned, resulting in them sleeping on the streets, in doorways, and relieving themselves in public areas.
The situation has escalated to the point where some of these individuals have become dangerous on the roads, directing traffic or following tourists, which raises safety concerns among visitors. Business owners report feeling increasingly threatened as the problem continues to grow.
Paul Jaduram, the special administrator for Labasa Town Council and president of the Macuata Tourism Association, noted that this issue has been ongoing for years. He recounted instances where he had to contact the local police after tenants complained about mentally challenged individuals loitering near their businesses. Jaduram emphasized that once the police remove these individuals, they inevitably return to the same locations. He called for authorities to conduct proper assessments of these individuals.
Jaduram proposed that those diagnosed with mental illness and lacking family support should be sent to the Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital, while homeless, mentally stable individuals could be housed in the Golden Age Home. He stressed the need for urgent attention to this issue, as both business operators and customers now feel unsafe.
In terms of police involvement, officers in Labasa have been providing food, clothing, and temporary shelter to those in need. However, many of these individuals tend to return to the streets, often neglecting their prescribed medication. Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, acknowledged the problem and urged families to take accountability for their relatives. He pointed out that some of these individuals receive social welfare benefits but are not cared for by their families. Baledrokadroka stressed the importance of official complaints if any offences are committed, highlighting that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion.
Savusavu is encountering similar challenges. Special administrator chairperson Shiu Shankar Singh voiced his frustration over incidents where mentally ill individuals disrupt traffic and harass tourists. He mentioned that as the festive season approaches, it is crucial for relevant authorities to collaborate and devise solutions. Singh also expressed that local businesses have struggled to achieve effective police intervention, particularly in situations where individuals threaten vendors or use abusive language, noting that action only seems to happen once formal complaints are filed.
The Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection was contacted for comment but did not respond. As the festive season approaches, businesses and police are calling for immediate action to address this increasing crisis, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to ensure vulnerable individuals are not left to fend for themselves on the streets.
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