Govt blames media for exaggerating Fiji’s social issues

The Government has shifted the blame onto the media for exaggerating Fiji’s social issues.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka, has downplayed the ongoing issues in the country, saying it’s the media which had been “over exaggerating” issues.

His responses followed questions from this masthead about how firm our national security measures are in preventing drugs from entering the country freely.

References were also made to some tourists mulling drugs into Fiji and law enforcement officers charged for involvement in Fiji’s illicit drug trade.

Mr Gavoka said while Government worked hard to tell the world how beautiful Fiji was, media headlines had exaggerated issues.

“I just wish you (media) would change the story a bit because you know headlines of drugs, HIV and other issues like that. This (Fiji) is the most beautiful country in the whole world, visitors come here in rows and we are the ones giving Fiji the background,” Mr Gavoka said.

“It’s happening, but it’s not in a way that its prevalent in the community, it’s a minority thing.”

Mr Gavoka said he hoped for a change in the media headlines as it moved ahead with its efforts in expanding the tourism industry.