Resources needed to fight drugs – FBC News

Speaker of Parliament and President-elect Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu suggests that vulnerable populations are given adequate resources to prevent them from resorting to illicit drug trade and consumption.

Ratu Naiqama made this comment at the Speaker’s Debate, where he also called for a coordinated and urgent response to combat the rise in drug trafficking and abuse, a challenge that affects not only urban areas but also rural villages.

During the debate, the President emphasized that they cannot be complacent and must act now to protect communities from the impact of drugs.

“We have stated that the drug problem could escalate to violence and make our communities unsafe. Hard drugs, such as methamphetamine or methamphetamine, are not restricted to urban areas. I am right there in rural Vanua Levu, in my village. They have it there.”

Ratu Naiqama stresses that funding alone will not solve the crisis as community involvement is needed to tackle drug problems fueled by economic hardships such as unemployment and poverty.

“Given high levels of unemployment and poverty, our vulnerable populations are rapidly being influenced and drawn into drug use and the lucrative trafficking business. This makes the problem even more pressing. We need to provide support and alternatives to those at risk, making sure we have the ability to steer them away from the drugs that will take them away.”

He says the drug problem is a challenge we must face head on.