The Fiji Police Force has reported a total of 534 instances of yaqona theft on Taveuni Island from October 2019 to October this year. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who also oversees the police department, disclosed this information during a parliamentary session, in response to inquiries by Group of Nine (G9) Leader Ioane Naivalurua regarding the rising trend of thefts.
Rabuka acknowledged the difficulties in addressing this issue, mentioning that law enforcement has made considerable efforts to tackle the thefts, employing a traditional “vanua” approach alongside conventional methods. The statistics reveal a notable surge in thefts between 2019 and 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, but the numbers declined until last year. However, there has been an uptick in 2024, with 82 reported cases from January to October.
Rabuka noted an increase in the theft of green yaqona plants as well, highlighting the absence of regulations governing the sale and purchase of these plants. The police are advocating for the inclusion of regulations pertaining to green yaqona in the licensing criteria for businesses involved in yaqona sales.
This situation underscores the importance of both community involvement and regulatory measures in protecting agricultural resources. By fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local faith-based organizations, like the Methodist Church, there is hope for improved monitoring and prevention of these thefts. This could lead to a more sustainable management of yaqona resources, benefiting both the local economy and cultural practices associated with the plant.
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