It is pretty serious stuff when the Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua says we could be “a nation of zombies” if nothing is done to nip our drug problem.
Mr Tikoduadua was officiating at the opening of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, Seizure) school at the Republic of Fiji Navy training base, RFNS Viti, in Togalevu yesterday.
Japanese Ambassador Rokuichiro Michii, who was also at the event, spoke about the recent seizure of more than four tonnes of methamphetamine.
A person, he said, could get intoxicated with 0.001 grams to 0.005g of methamphetamine, “so if we divide 4 tonnes, for simplicity, by 0.001 and further divide by the population of Fiji, about 900,000, we will get 4444”.
“So that means, if this amount is consumed by people here, every person can get intoxicated 4444 times. This is just absurd.”
The issue of drugs in Fiji, according to Mr Tikoduadua, is now second only, as a matter of threat, to climate change. The reference to a nation of zombies, he said, may sound like a joke, “but there are definitely people who are seriously affected by the drugs on our streets”.
He referred to a bag of meth found in the Yasawas last week. Drugs were getting washed ashore in Samoa and Tonga, he noted.
“Covering this large ocean is an astronomical act, our economies are not cut for it, we do not have the money and the resources. It only then re-emphasises the fact that drugs and other illegal activities that are coming to our region can only be contained if we all work together.”
We acknowledge this call for unity. In fact it is the way to go. There are far too many questions lingering over the meth situation we now find ourselves in.
When you consider the amount captured and reflect on the possibility of others not accounted for, we have a lucrative industry thriving. And there are addicts! Our challenge now, aside from fighting the drug war with the police, is to set up rehabilitation centres.
We have been advocating this for the past three years. The powers that be must find the will to make this happen.
We can continue to fight the war, but we will need these rehab centres set up urgently to deal with addicts. Otherwise, where do they go to?
Where do they turn to? Where do they get assistance to leave the habit, and overcome their addiction?
The cycle of addiction perpetuates without proper support systems. The big question is, do we have the political will to make things happen urgently?
We are encouraged by the fact that the drug situation is now known, and we are seeing raids, and people arrested. Sadly, we allowed this situation to fester over many years.
That is the frustrating bit. That is the unfortunate bit and opinions would be centered on someone being held accountable! Frustration regarding past inaction is understandable.
Aside from just focusing on accountability, what’s essential is the political will to translate policy discussions into action. The raids and arrests demonstrate a positive shift, but we also need rehabilitation options.
We again focus on rehab centres and a united front where we are all talking about the same issues and dealing with the complex challenges, for a better Fiji for our children!
