Acting Commissioner acknowledge Church Support
The Acting Commissioner of Police has acknowledged and commended the executives of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma in supporting the ongoing crime prevention efforts on the island of Kadavu.
This follows a weeklong specialized training and awareness program conducted by the Methodist Church’s Reverend Iliesa Koroi, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai and Reverend Sitiveni Kua at Namalata Village specifically focused on spreading awareness messages on the harmful impacts of the illicit drug trade through Biblical teachings and ideologies.
In attendance were close to 200 Church leaders, stewards, youth volunteers and members of the community from around Kadavu who showed their interest in helping spread the awareness messages in their respective communities.
Last year the Acting Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu paid a courtesy call to the President of the Methodist Church of Fiji Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa whereby discussions were held on how the Church could assist crime prevention efforts in Kadavu through the Duavata Community Policing umbrella as religion played an important supporting role in ongoing efforts to curb the illicit drug trade.
“The Fiji Police Force is truly grateful to the President of the Methodist Church and senior executives for seeing through our request for assistance through its members on the island as religion plays an influential role in people’s lives”.
“Kadavu has a proud and history of being an island of prosperity and great wealth before the cultivation of the illicit drug became rife on the island and there are thousands of others who are earning an honest living so to say that the cultivation of marijuana is an easy source of income is not an acceptable excuse”.
The Acting Commissioner says the social consequences are far too great to be ignored or to put a monetary value because once an innocent life is affected, their families and communities are also affected.
According to the Kadavu Police Station Officer Inspector Josua Daveta reports of serious crimes have dropped since the Drug Operations began in June last year.
IP Daveta says they have noted that serious crimes such as domestic violence and sexual offences have decreased and was likely due to the high number of joint drug raids conducted from June to December.
He added 48 people were arrested during the operational period in June to December 2020 and 4 people have been arrested since operations started in January this year.
“From our outreach programs particularly in schools we have seen how children who are in Primary school have either seen the drug or witnessed it in the possession of an adult”.
“There is a lot of support from community leaders and we are trying our very best to change the perception of Kadavu as being a red zone for drugs and we know it can be done in partnership with our various stakeholders”.
