BA Provincial Council chairman Ratu Meli Tora says he stands by what he said in his last interview with this newspaper.
In a report by The Fiji Times on July 15, Mr Tora stressed the need for honest and trustworthy law enforcement officers in the newly-formed Drugs and Narcotics Bureau in their work against the devastating effects of illicit drug abuse.
At the Ba Provincial Council meeting in Namoli Village yesterday, Mr Tora said the effects of dishonest and untrustworthy leadership would trickle down to the rest of society.
“Particularly with us the iTaukei,” Mr Tora said.
“And I thank the Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu who has told us about the economic empowerment of the iTaukei.
“Because one side of it is the social structure which we will discuss in this meeting.
“That the leadership roles in the community, from the chiefs to the liuliu ni yavusa, turaga ni mataqali, turaga ni tokatoka, should trickle down to individual families.
“If this is well taken into consideration, I believe, and everyone’s committed to the duty of care of performing their rightful responsibilities, I believe it will be minimised.
“We may not be able to totally eradicate it, but it will be minimised.”
