So much is happening in Fiji. We have a war against drugs. That’s, right now, the major challenge we have to deal with. It is a massive undertaking and strong emotions are attached to this.
It chews at the very fabric of society, impacting it in many ways.
Yet, in the face of that, sits associated risks, and other factors we as a nation must also address.
We have a health system that is under great pressure. We have infrastructure issues we have to contend with, ranging from some of our roads, some of our bridges, buildings like the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, to water works, to name a few.
Then there are the challenges we face in our education system that stretch from the curriculum to disciplinary issues.
We have challenges fronting the court system, and interesting developments in politics, and on our Constitution.
They are all out there. They sit as challenges we must eventually face and address. Talking about them is the easy part. Finding practical and lasting solutions is the challenge we have.
Place that alongside misinformation and a receptive and quite vocal online audience, and you’ve got something that demands urgent action.
As much as these issues may appear overwhelming, we have to start somewhere. We must organise ourselves as a people and confront them.
The war against drugs is critical because of the damage it is causing our nation.
It cuts through society like a blade, affecting people, institutions, systems and our international image.
We see its impact in addiction, rising HIV concerns, crime, fear, insecurity and frustration in our communities.
We can see and feel the effect it has on public confidence and on how safe people feel in their own communities.
This is why the rule of law matters.
From this flows many of the principles that hold a democratic society together.
We know it is tied to democracy itself, to the protection of rights, to respect for life, and to the responsibility of a nation to serve its people fairly.
The rule of law is there to ensure that people and institutions, including our Government, remain accountable under the laws of the land.
Ideally, no one should stand above the law.
Everyone should be treated equally and fairly.
We should be able to challenge corruption and abuse of power. We should be able to protect our freedom of speech, freedom of religion and our personal privacy.
We should be able to maintain an orderly society that embraces all people and strengthens public trust.
At the end of the day, the rule of law is a cornerstone of democracy, safeguarding equality, accountability, order and public confidence.
Understandably, emotions are quite high right now. Recent events in Fiji have affected different sections of society. There is frustration as people demand action.
We are approaching a crossroads.
We value media freedom and the right to express opinions.
In the face of all that is happening around us, one man is dead. Another claims he was brutally assaulted in custody alongside four others and survived to tell his story. A separate incident in Suva saw a man rushed to hospital after being beaten by several men.
Against the backdrop of strong public sentiment, perhaps one of our greatest challenges now is ensuring that emotions do not dictate our actions.
That is probably our toughest test!
