Bula
The surge in drug-related admissions at Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital has compromised their ability to serve the community effectively.
Selina Kuruleca, chairperson of the Saint Giles Hospital Board of Visitors, stated that this influx is straining the hospital’s primary psychiatric services. The facility is becoming overcrowded with young drug users who are influencing other patients.
The lead story in the Business section highlights that retailers are starting to feel the effects of reduced consumer spending due to the high cost of living, prompting Fijians to be more cautious with their money. In Suva, businesses and consumers are experiencing mixed reactions to the ongoing high costs of goods and services. The Reserve Bank of Fiji’s latest economic review mentions that while consumption is still positive, driven by tourism, higher income, and remittances, the steady emigration and high living costs are stalling its progress.
In other news, former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will face another criminal trial a month after his scheduled release from prison in May 2025. Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho are charged with unlawfully terminating two police officers, with the trial set to begin on June 2, 2025. Qiliho will be released in 2026.
An Emergency Control Unit has been established to investigate corrections officers involved in illegal activities, such as smuggling contraband into prisons. This initiative, spearheaded by Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, aims to address these issues decisively. Nakarawa’s comments come after an officer was allegedly caught smuggling drugs and mobile phones into the Naboro Minimum Corrections Centre during a recent night shift.
The situation poses a serious problem, as it involves both the integrity of the officers and the inmates’ welfare. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime emphasizes the importance of treating prisoners humanely to ensure community safety and prevent reoffending. Despite successful efforts in the past to curb contraband smuggling, the problem has resurfaced, prompting the creation of the new unit.
Dr. Nakarawa pointed out the risks involved for officers who engage in such activities, stressing that familiarity with inmates can lead to contempt and unlawful behavior. The offending officers risk their careers, while inmates have little to lose. The critical questions revolve around why officers would risk their jobs by smuggling contraband and what incentives drive them to take such risks.
Addressing these issues requires a focus on staff integrity, recruitment processes, enhanced training, and improved detection and deterrence systems. Dr. Nakarawa acknowledges the gravity of these challenges, and the formation of the Emergency Control Unit is seen as a positive step in a broader strategy to tackle this complex issue.