Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is calling on school communities and parents to collaborate with the Government in addressing the issue of drug use. His appeal comes after a cleanup at the Miss Hibiscus Festival revealed concerning evidence, including discarded syringes.
While speaking at the 100-year anniversary of Ratu Kadavulevu School held at Albert Park in Suva, Rabuka expressed disappointment upon receiving negative feedback from his staff regarding the festival’s cleanliness.
“After attending a Communion Service at Butt Street, Wesley Church, I instructed my staff to check again with city cleaners. They provided me with a photo of a pile of trash that included syringes used for intravenous drug use,” Rabuka said. He emphasized the importance of community unity in tackling the drug crisis, which significantly impacts the youth.
Rabuka stressed that the fight against drugs should begin with parents, followed by schools, religious organizations, and community members.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, stated that although there were no arrests made at the festival, some apprehensions occurred in the Suva area and its suburbs. He noted that while used syringes were found in various locations around Suva, there are currently no legal grounds for arresting individuals for possessing empty syringes, as this is not addressed in the law.
“Our police operations concentrate on offenses related to liquor, theft, drugs, and property. We’ve managed these areas effectively,” ACP Driu said, adding that they monitored not just the festival but the entirety of Suva.