Drugs Erode Fiji's Future, Deputy Prime Minister Warns

Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka delivered a strong message on the pervasive threat of illegal drugs, stating they are robbing Fiji's youth of purpose, weakening families, and eroding discipline and hope. Officiating at the Ratu Sukuna Day celebration in Lautoka, Gavoka declared that the growing menace of illicit substances is a sad reality the nation must confront collectively. He emphasized that this challenge extends beyond law enforcement, testing the resolve of homes, churches, temples, schools, and communities. Drugs, he warned, are stripping young people of direction while undermining the very foundations of Fijian society. Reflecting on the vision of Ratu Sukuna, Gavoka asserted that a strong nation is built upon educated minds, disciplined communities, and a united populace. He recalled Ratu Sukuna's aspiration for a Fiji where young people thrive through learning, hard work, service, and mutual respect – a vision he deemed highly relevant today. The Deputy Prime Minister called for increased investment in education, youth empowerment programs, sports, faith-based initiatives, and economic opportunities, cautioning that a nation that loses its youth forfeits a part of its future. Gavoka reiterated Ratu Sukuna's belief in education's transformative power, quoting his view that Fijians should excel academically, earn and save diligently, and live peacefully with others. He underscored education as the paramount key to opportunity and success, serving as a crucial safeguard against ignorance, division, and societal decay.

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Drugs rob young people of purpose, they weaken families, and they erode discipline and hope.