Independent Member of Parliament Ioane Naivalurua says “the battle against drugs requires a vigorous and immediate response, not a bureaucratic one.”

“The actions taken must be proactive and precise,” he said during debate on the 2024-2025 Budget where he called for the establishment of a Joint Select Committee for Parliamentary Oversight to review and assess the Coalition Government’s Counter Narcotics Strategy’s implementation and progress.

“While I applaud the efforts of the honourable Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration in establishing a Narcotics Bureau, from what I hear on the ground, the situation has

overtaken us. Drugs are easily and readily available on our streets.

“I ask the Coalition Government, does our effort match the crisis?

“In scrutinizing this Budget, our words appear empty as much of the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 still needs to be funded in the various ministries identified as stakeholders.

“The launch of the Counter Narcotics Strategy is a positive step forward, however, I ask the following questions:

(1) Will the strategies in this document effectively disrupt the flow and use of drugs?

(2) Does this send a clear signal to the syndicates seeking to exploit our borders and our

people?

(3) Does this create a national conscience that everyone must stand and fight this together?

(4) Does this return Fiji to a safe and stable nation?”