PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka hopes fear of the military is not the deterrent behind changing public behaviour in Suva, but greater awareness of crime and drugs.
Speaking to The Fiji Times, he said there had been no official report confirming the apparent change in public behaviour, but acknowledged observations that the Capital has seemed less active in that regard.
“That has not been reported,” Mr Rabuka said.
He said he would prefer the shift to be driven by increased public awareness of crime and drug-related issues, rather than concern over the involvement of the military in supporting police operations.
“I’m hoping that it is not the fact that the military has come to help the police, but because of the elevation of the profile of crimes and drugs in the last few days that has made the people more cautious.”
Mr Rabuka noted that heightened attention to crime may be influencing behaviour across the board, not only among those engaged in unlawful activity.
“But I think we’re all more cautious, not just those who are inclined towards breaking the law.”
He suggested that increased vigilance could ultimately contribute to a reduction in incidents, describing the trend as potentially positive if it reflects greater public awareness rather than fear.
