Bula
Three stories make the front page of The Fiji Times for Wednesday, May 7.
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Synopsis
Enough of the big talk! Action please!
The revelation that the Government, businesses, churches and community organisations are being urged to step forward and provide a building to house what could be Fiji’s first fully operational drug rehabilitation centre will raise some questions.
It is encouraging to know that there is a concerted effort to get things rolling, at least among some people and organisations, however, slow action is a great concern.
Drug-Free World ambassador Jessica Brown and the CEO of the Drug Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Fiji), Rev Simione Tugi, say they are ready to set up and operate a fully funded rehabilitation facility, provided a suitable building is made available.
That is a start! There is a willingness to see something eventuate after all the big talk!
The Fiji Times has long advocated for such a facility, highlighting the urgent need for accessible rehabilitation for more than four years.
Our editorial stance has consistently called attention to the alarming rise in drug addiction, especially the spread of dangerous substances like methamphetamine, which have taken a toll on people, families, and communities across the nation.
Last month, there was a glimmer of hope when the Government finally introduced incentives for those interested in establishing rehabilitation centres.
Finance Minister Biman Prasad announced duty and VAT exemptions, along with tax holidays under the newly gazetted Income Tax (Drug Rehabilitation Centre Incentives) Regulations 2025.
They were a welcome step, and we hope they will pave the way for sustainable, privately operated facilities.
However, it seems, progress has been quite slow.
And this is why we had initially questioned whether we have the political will to make things happen!
Ms Brown said their organisation represented an international volunteer-based non-profit body that worked across countries to tackle drug-related issues through prevention education and rehabilitation.
“We’ve been here five times in the past 10 to 12 months, trying to raise awareness about the urgent need for a drug rehabilitation centre in Fiji,” she said.
The proposed rehabilitation model is based on the internationally recognised NARCONON program, which has operated for more than 50 years and is affiliated with the Church of Scientology in terms of technology and funding.
The initiative has received support from the Fiji Council of Churches through Rev Tugi, who has been actively involved in promoting the project and is now their chief executive officer.
While there has been interest shown in the concept of a rehabilitation centre, implementation, according to Ms Brown, is taking time.
We have been advocating for drug rehabilitation because of the addiction rate we are now facing as a nation. This hasn’t just popped out of the woodworks either! Hard drugs like methamphetamine have been around for quite some time now!
Drug addicts have no fully resourced and well set up centres to turn to if they want to leave the habit.
It’s tough doing that. They will need expert advice. They will need a centre that can understand their addiction and effectively deal with it. That means being equipped with qualified health experts!
We can talk about fighting the producer and seller, but as more developed nations have discovered, it is going to be a tough challenge that will also need our collective efforts.
So, while we will leave that bit to the law enforcers to deal with, we should play our part in fighting drugs.
That means creating awareness about the dangers of hard drugs on the home front, in our communities and in our schools.
As we have said before: Rehabilitation is not a simple process. We need trained professionals who understand the complexities of addiction and the multifaceted journey of recovery.
We need centres that offer hope and the possibility of a new life.
Enough of the big talk! Let’s see more action! People are suffering!
