Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is urging school communities and parents to collaborate with the Government in the battle against drug use. His call to action comes after a cleanup following the Miss Hibiscus Festival revealed alarming evidence of discarded syringes.
During the 100-year anniversary celebration of Ratu Kadavulevu School at Albert Park in Suva, Mr. Rabuka expressed his disappointment with negative feedback from his staff after they inspected the festival area.
“As I attended the Communion Service at Butt Street, Wesley Church, I instructed my staff to check again with the city cleaners, and they sent me a photo of a pile of waste that included a syringe used for intravenous drug use,” he said. “It is vital for communities to unite in addressing the drug issue, particularly as it impacts the youth.”
Mr. Rabuka emphasized that the fight against drugs should begin with parents, followed by schools, religious institutions, and the community at large.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, noted that although no arrests were made during the festival, there were several arrests in the Suva region and its suburbs.
“Used syringes were discovered in certain areas of Suva; however, we cannot apprehend individuals for merely possessing empty syringes, as current laws do not address this issue unless we amend our legislation,” ACP Driu stated. “Our police operations concentrate on liquor-related offenses, theft, drug-related issues, and property crimes, which have been effectively managed. We monitored the entire Suva area, not just the festival.”