Ba Provincial Council chairman Meli Tora has emphasized the importance of honest and trustworthy law enforcement officers in the newly established Drugs and Narcotics Bureau.
His statement follows incidents where some officers have been found to be involved with drugs.
Mr. Tora believes that the integrity of these officers is essential for the bureau to effectively address drug-related issues.
“For the bureau to succeed, it must be staffed with officers who are committed to their duties and can be trusted by the community,” he asserted.
He added that having reliable and honest officers will help restore public confidence and ensure the bureau can tackle the drug problem effectively.
Mr. Tora also underscored the broader context of the drug issue, emphasizing that the battle against drugs begins at home.
He pointed out that parents were not fulfilling their roles in guiding and supervising their children.
Furthermore, he urged churches and pastors to reach out to these youths and visit their homes to advocate on the issue, noting that most of these youths were iTaukei.
“Parents need to take responsibility and be more involved in their children’s lives,” he said.
“Churches and pastors must also play a proactive role in addressing the drug problem within the community.”