The Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran says the decision to close nightclubs at 1am will see less youths loitering the streets and engaging in violent activities under the influence of alcohol.
The decision to change the nightclub operating hours was made after Parliament had passed the Liquor Amendment Bill on July 14.
She said most parents were often quite unaware and negligent of their children’s whereabouts.
“When I was in Lautoka I was trying to understand what was happening on the streets,” Ms Kiran said.
“So I went to the different nightclubs outside and I saw a lot of minors, young girls and boys, young girls drunk on the streets, boys grabbing them.
“We went to some of them and then they got in a taxi and they took off. “So there’s a lot of young people who feel neglected probably in their environments.
“And then some of the children were taken to the parents and say they were at the nightclub and parents are not aware.”
She said the decision was welcomed by the Ministry and said they were working with police to help combat the issues pertaining to keeping youths safe.
“We are trying to do this to protect our young.
“It may not look easy, but something has to be done, because our younger vulnerable. ”
But there is a very strong police presence and we’ve been talking to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Operations.
“There is a very strong presence and mobile teams and we are working with the police on this.”
She added her ministry had partnered up with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to engage young people into sports, technical classes and jobs as she said there was a lot of potential in youths.
