The revelation that Fiji risks losing a generation of young people to unemployment, drugs and social instability is a major concern.
We have been warned that we need urgent action to create jobs and opportunities.
This is a serious issue that demands attention.
We say this against the backdrop of troubling trends and challenges we face as a nation.
We are grappling with a major illicit drug crisis that did not suddenly pop out of the woodworks.
We must acknowledge that this problem was allowed to grow over many years. In failing to confront it early, we unintentionally gave it room to spread.
Today, that neglect is coming back to haunt us.
We are seeing the damaging effects of the drug trade across society. Addiction rates are rising. HIV infections continue to grow as well. More people are appearing before the courts because of their involvement in drugs.
The situation appears to be spiralling out of control. The numbers we see regularly are alarming and will no doubt inch out difficult questions.
Why were the warning signs not acted upon decades ago? Why was there no sustained and determined effort to confront the rise of methamphetamine and cocaine before they tightened their grip on communities?
These are uncomfortable questions that must be asked.
Yesterday, World Bank economists warned that nearly 19 per cent of Fijian youths are not in education, employment or training, despite Fiji enjoying the advantage of a growing young population.
Presenting findings from the latest Pacific Economic Update, World Bank country economist Naomi Mathenge stressed that economic growth on its own would not be enough if young people remained disconnected from jobs and opportunities.
Economists say Fiji’s youth population could become a powerful driver of economic growth by 2035. However, that potential will only be realised if Government and the private sector move now to link young people with employment, skills training and long-term opportunities. That warning should resonate loudly across the country.
This challenge is not only about economics. It is about the future direction of our nation. Idle and frustrated young people become vulnerable to crime, drugs and hopelessness. When opportunities disappear, we know dangerous alternatives often fill the vacuum.
That is why this issue demands a national response.
It requires a shift in mindset. It demands genuine investment in our young people. It means stronger awareness campaigns on the devastating impact illicit drugs have on families, communities and the nation.
It also demands engagement at every level of society. We need unity in recognising the role we each can play in guiding and empowering our youth.
The most important point here is the fact that we have been warned. We have also been shown where improvements can be made.
So, we can act with urgency and purpose, or continue down a path we have been warned against.
