Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is calling on school communities and parents to collaborate with the Government in the battle against drug use. This appeal comes after a post-festival cleanup at the Miss Hibiscus Festival uncovered alarming evidence of discarded syringes.
While addressing attendees at the 100-year anniversary of Ratu Kadavulevu School at Albert Park in Suva, Mr. Rabuka expressed his disappointment upon hearing negative feedback from his staff regarding the festival’s aftermath. “During my visit to Communion Service at Butt Street, Wesley Church, I instructed my team to follow up with the city cleaners. They subsequently sent me a photo showing a pile of rubbish that included a syringe used for intravenous drug use,” Mr. Rabuka stated. He emphasized the importance of community collaboration in addressing the drug issue, particularly its impact on the youth.
The Prime Minister stressed that the initiative to combat drugs should begin with parents and extend to schools, religious groups, and local communities.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, reported that while there were no arrests made during the festival, several arrests were conducted in the Suva area and its suburbs. “Used syringes were discovered in specific locations within Suva. However, we cannot apprehend individuals for merely possessing empty or used syringes, as this is not currently an offense under our laws. Legislative changes are required to address this gap,” ACP Driu explained. He also mentioned that police operations concentrate on liquor-related offenses, theft, drugs, and property crimes, and assured that they were monitoring not just the festival but the entire Suva region.