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With the help of the Fiji Police Force the shoeshine boys of Suva City met yesterday so that they could revive their association.

The boys showed a lot of eagerness and interest as they were briefed by the Crime Free Secretariat on what the police want from them.

They were briefed on the Commissioners Intent, Crime Free Suva programs and Healthy Suva Programs.

Inspector Anare Masitabua of the Crime Free Secretariat explained to the boys that the Fiji Police Force, Suva City Council, Business Community and other stakeholders are trying to give respect and acceptance to the boys.

For this reason the SCC has given positioning to them and asked them to remain within their positions and respect the license issued to them.

 

Police is empowering the boys to be part of the team to achieve a Crime Free Suva. They were encouraged to keep an eye on illegal and criminal activities and report them to police.

The benefits of Crime Free Suva was explained to them and IP Masitabua informed them it would attract more tourists, more local visitors, more customers for the boys and boost business in our city.

IP Masitabua thanked the stakeholders such as SCC and BSP for their kind assistance towards the reformation of the shoeshine boys.

Bank of South Pacific has agreed to open bank accounts for the boys, give them special t-shirts to mark their positioning in the city and give them shoeshine jackets to give them special identity too.

"The t-shirts and jackets are also part of the Healthy Suva Program whereby the boys would look more attractive, healthy and smarter. This would also make the street look better if they do business in neat dressing," said IP Masitabua.

Crime Free Secretariat aims to make the shoeshine boys law abiding and respectable citizens.