The towns of Labasa and Savusavu on Vanua Levu are facing a rising issue with mentally challenged individuals becoming a public disturbance. Many of these individuals are homeless or have been abandoned, leading them to inhabit streets, sleep in doorways, and engage in public defecation.
Concerns have escalated as some of these individuals pose traffic dangers by directing vehicles on busy roads or following tourists, instilling fear among visitors. Local business owners are increasingly worried about their safety as the situation deteriorates.
Paul Jaduram, the special administrator for Labasa Town and president of the Macuata Tourism Association, noted that this problem has been ongoing for years. He recounted instances where he had to contact the Labasa Police Station for help when tenants reported a mentally disturbed individual sleeping outside their business. He highlighted that those removed by the police often return to the same locations and stressed the need for proper assessments by authorities.
Jaduram proposed that individuals diagnosed with mental illness, lacking familial support, should be directed to Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital, while homeless but mentally stable individuals could be accommodated at the Golden Age Home. He warned that the growing concern has left many business operators and their customers feeling unsafe.
In response, Labasa police have attempted to assist these individuals by providing food, clothing, and temporary shelter. However, many return to the streets, and a lack of adherence to prescribed medication complicates matters. Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent Kemueli Baledrokadroka, emphasized that families must take responsibility for these individuals, particularly those receiving social welfare benefits. He mentioned that official complaints are necessary for any legal action to proceed and underscored the shared responsibility of the community to prevent any individual from living on the streets.
Savusavu faces a similar predicament. Special administrator chairperson Shiu Shankar Singh expressed concern over mentally ill individuals disrupting traffic and bothering tourists. He described how some individuals follow tourists around the market, creating an unsafe environment. With the festive season approaching, Singh called for authorities to collaborate and find solutions to this pressing issue, noting that local business owners have struggled to see effective police intervention in these matters.
Efforts to get a statement from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection went unanswered. As the holiday season nears, both businesses and police are urging timely action to address this growing crisis, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to assist vulnerable individuals and curb their presence on the streets.
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