A Nausori businessman has alleged that young children are being used by drug peddlers.

This allegation was made during the 2018/2019 National Budget consultation before Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Nausori yesterday.

Businessman Zulfikar Ali claimed that instances of drug peddling increased in Nausori and a number of business houses had been targets of break-ins by those who wanted to fund their drug addiction.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum assured him that this matter would be dealt with and that it would be raised with police.

Other issues raised during the consultations ranged from a need for student counselors to deal with students’ behavioural issues and how best citizens could keep the environment clean.

Yesterday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Permanent Secretary for Economy Makereta Konrote started the consultations at Suva’s Devos On The Park and then went to Sila Central High School in Nausori.

Another issue raised was the need to look at municipalities.

Samabula resident Vincent McKenzie raised concerns about businesses being operated in residential areas.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said many laws in respect of the municipal councils were archaic and Government was looking into this.

“Municipal councils need to be modernised and to go around and see that all things are done,” he said.

Mr McKenzie suggested that the Government look into having special days allocated for rubbish collections of plastic materials.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said overseas countries had bins for different types of rubbish like plastic bags and bottles and the Government was looking at that.

He said Government wanted the Municipal Councils to think outside the box.

The issues:

•  Business houses and juice vendors on the streets doing business without proper licences;
•  Need to improve e-ticketing issues such as machines not working and overcharging of fares;
•  Need to subdivide Lakena and Manoca subdivisions; and
•  Money to be set aside in budget to deal with drainage issues.

STUDENT COUNSELLORS

Meanwhile, retired  school teacher Misaele Driubalavu has called on the Government to look into creating counsellor positions under the Ministry for Education.

Mr Driubalavu raised this at the 2018-2019 Budget Consultation in Suva yesterday.

While acknowledging the increase in pay for principals in the education sector, Mr Driubalavu said the work being carried out in various schools under the Fijian Government was positive.

However, he said, his concerns stemmed from the recent violence being recorded in schools and the behaviour of students as reported in the media recently.

“I’m suggesting the provision of counselling services for students and setting up of student support services,” he said.

Mr Driubalavu there were only a few counsellors available in schools and there was a great need to have counsellors in schools.

He said teachers, faced difficulties in addressing students in regards to their behaviour.

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa

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