Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called on youths to refrain from cultivating illicit drugs such as marijuana.

Instead the PM said youths should focus on progressive things in life.

He gave the advice while visiting Naividamu and Vunikawakawa villages in Macuata in the North to commission a bridge on Thursday.

Mr Rabuka said with the abundance of land owned by respective villages, youths should make good use of idle land.

Vunikawakawa Village headman Ropate Rawaqa echoed the advice saying the influence of drugs affected the villagers ‘progress.

Mr Rawaqa said youths in their village were not involved in marijuana planting.

“We have other agricultural means of earning for our families,” he said.

Mr Rawaqa said at 33 years old, he continued to explore his income earning opportunities.

The flow of knowledge should be prioritised from the elders to young people, Mr Rabuka said.

“This is to ensure that youths are in line with village developments and personal growth,” he said.

“Don’t use this bridge accessibility to engage in illegal activities because the effects are detrimental to our communities,” Mr Rabuka said.

He shared spiritual guidance that church teachings were pathways to guide youths to remain on track with family and village duties.

The proposal to remove the equal distribution of land lease money was also influenced by the thought to enhance village developments.

Mr Rabuka emphasised that under this policy, youths misused their lease money and were found spending unwisely in nightclubs.

Public consultations on closure of nightclub operating hours were undergoing and youth avoidance to crime was behind the need to decrease operating hours.

Story By:  Sampras Anand

Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj