three day Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) Program closing

The Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu in closing the three day Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) Program for the Lami area, urged stakeholders to work together in achieving meaningful interventions for safe communities for all.

The head of the Fiji Police Force made the plea to the representatives of Government Ministries, statutory bodies, and non-government organisation’s present during the closing of the Ministry of Women and Children, Poverty Alleviation REACH Program at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall in Lami today.

“The Fiji Police Force is supportive of the Reach Program as it focuses on the community, for within the community lies the solutions to the many social ills linked to crime that we are now facing.”

Commissioner Tudravu used the example of the war on drugs as a means to work together in looking deeper into the root causes of the crime.

“Majority of the major seizures are being made in rural and outer islands - and the reliance on illegal means for a source of income, warrants strategic interventions such as this. While on one hand we have made arrests - the question that lingers is whether it has really broken the cycle, or is it a band-aid solution to the bigger issue at hand.”

The Commissioner of Police went on to say, “Policing is multi-faceted and the demands are there for us to find the solutions to all problems faced - including addressing the why question of the cycle of crime. It’s a lot to ask of us, but we know that through partnerships and programs such as REACH, we can find a solution that works for all.” 

“It is the Fiji Police’s hopes that the intervention will expand to the involvement of more stakeholders - because addressing the root causes of crime and social ills does need an holistic approach. Community partnerships drive sustainable and meaningful change - and the Fiji Police Force is onboard with all stakeholders and entities that make it their business to drive and promote participation, and inclusiveness should also start with us. “

The REACH project aims to accomplish increased awareness and access to essential services in urban, rural and maritime communities?.