The events of the 2000 and 2006 coups may have contributed to the increasing moral decay among youths and school-aged children, says Great Council of Chiefs chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula.
Speaking to this newspaper, Ratu Viliame said the coups may additionally be the reason young iTaukei have been driven towards criminal activities.
“We all acknowledge that challenges will come with globalisation,” said Ratu Viliame .
“Unfortunately for Fiji, the events of 2000 and 2006 may have contributed in some way to the acceleration of the process of moral decay.”
Ratu Viliame said the events led to challenges to societal norms of respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech, the challenge to people’s rights and the introduction of laws that protect a few at the expense of the population.
“When you do this and accept it, the new generation lives through such a period, thinking it is the norm.
“They go into school with that idea and onto the workplace. Their children, growing up listening to their parents’ conversations or their behaviour that has been unconsciously shaped by the new environment, take their cues from there.
“In the backdrop of high inflation, lack of good education opportunities and lack of properly paid job creation, this compounds the misery of poverty.”
Ratu Viliame said the concern was the erosion of traditional values and ethical standards within Fijian society.
“Sexual offences within family and village settings, HIV from drug abuse, violence in the family and the young generation are the main victims.”
