Police Contestants To Advocate On Drug Use, Parental Love
For the first time in the history of the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North, two Police officers will feature as contestants.
The festival starts this week at Subrail Park in Labasa. Miss Apco Coatings Litia Bola and Mr Hometown Hardware Sauhili Mataitini are Police Constables based at the Labasa Police Station.
Although they are not originally from the Northern Division, their primary aim is to give back to the community they serve by raising awareness on various is- sues that they were dealing with since they joined the force in March this year.
Ms Bola, 23, will be advocating on drug use causing life changing consequences while Mr Mataitini, 21, will be advocating on parental love playing a vital role in a child’s life and future.
“Substance abuse is on the rise among students in schools and in our nation as a whole,” Ms Bola said.
“It affects day to day life from many different perspectives, including your health, career, relationships, finance and education.”
The youngest of two siblings from Veiseisei, Vuda, Ba, said she wasn’t aiming to win the week-long festival. Instead, she wishes to save the younger generation from drug abuse.
She is among the 10 queen contestants vying for the Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North crown and Miss Charity title.
Mr Mataitini, of Lomanikoro, Rewa said he had seen cases where parents were unaware of their children’s involvement in crime.
“I want to encourage them to embrace their children with love in such a way that they choose not to do wrong,” the second youngest of five siblings said.
“I have an extended family and I understand what it means to be without a job and work to earn money to financially support the family.”
The former student of Kalabu Secondary School before joining the Fiji Police Force, he worked as a farmer to support the family because his parents were away from home working as caregivers.
He is among the four king contestants vying for Mr Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North crown.
Story By: Shratika Naidu
Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj
