DRINKING in public places has become a growing nuisance in Savusavu Town, with authorities struggling to find a permanent solution.
While raising this, the Council chairman, Shankar Singh, said they receive at least 10 complaints a day about people consuming alcohol in public areas, which often leads to disturbances and a decline in the quality of life for residents and visitors.
“Despite sharing these complaints with the police, nothing has been done to resolve the issue,” Mr Singh said.
Mr Singh said while the problem was reported regularly, it continued to persist.
He said the town council had attempted to address the issue by working with local police to conduct patrols, but the results were temporary.
“We can address the situation for two to three days, but then everything goes back to normal. People just return to the streets with their alcohol.”
He said this ongoing challenge was affecting businesses and the overall image of the town, especially for tourists.
“Local shop owners have expressed frustration, noting that the presence of public drinking often deters customers.”
He has called for more collaboration between local authorities and residents to address the problem.
“This is a community issue, and we all need to take responsibility for ensuring our town remains safe and welcoming.”
In response, the Fiji Police Force said the divisional police commander would conduct a meeting to sort out the issues raised.
With regards to police-community efforts, the police said there was a Savusavu community Viber group where members exchange information about concerns, and the Savusavu police would attend to those matters.
