Crime Prevention Carnival to use pageant platform to fight drug abuse

The Duavata Northern Crime Prevention Carnival is aiming to raise $150,000 this year to build a classroom for students in Valelawa while promoting anti-drug awareness across the Northern Division.

Carnival chairperson Satish Kumar said proceeds from the event would support community development projects while reinforcing the carnival's long-standing crime prevention message.

"The community's aim this year is to collect $150,000 and from that money raised this year we are planning to build one classroom in Valelawa because the students are still on tents," Mr Kumar said.

He said the carnival, now in its 15th year, had completed several community projects and continued to evolve by responding to current social issues.

This year's theme is "Duavata Safety for Everyone and Fight Against Drugs."

Mr Kumar said all 19 contestants had spent the past two months preparing and would use the carnival to raise awareness about crime, particularly drug abuse.

"I must say that all of our contestants will be talking on crimes happening in Fiji especially on drugs," he said.

He said organisers continued to receive strong support from the Fiji Police Force.

"Collaboration with Fiji Police Force they are giving 100 per cent. Recently we just had a meeting with Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua and he was really happy to see what we were doing in the Northern Division," he said.

Mr Kumar said the carnival remained focused on creating safer communities.

"We are trying to stop crime in our country as well as in the Northern Division and a day will come when we will have zero rate of crimes in the Northern Division," he said.

He said he believed businesses and residents across the North would support the fundraising campaign.

"I have full faith that our business community and the people in the North will support us and we will be able to achieve our target," he said.