Pastor urges parents to protect children as school year starts

A senior church leader has warned that Fiji's escalating drugs crisis is placing children at serious risk, urging parents and communities to step up supervision as te new school year begins.

Faith Harvest Church senior pastor Reverend Manasa Kolivuso said young people were increasingly being drawn into the drug trade, while the country continued to be used as a transit point for illicit drugs bound for overseas markets.

Speaking during his pre-sermon yesterday, Reverend Kolivuso said those involved in he drug business were driven by desperation and profit, with little regard for the damage caused to families and communities.

"They don't care about the massive destruction this does to our children and our people'" he said.

"Enough is enough. We must stand up and fight it."

Reverend Kolivuso raised concern about reports of children dying under mysterious circumstances and others going missing for days, saying these cases could not be ignored. 

He said many incidents involved iTaukei families and called on communities to confront what he described as growing negligence. 

“One thing about us is that we tend to ignore problems until something happens,” he said.

“Our children are being affected, and we cannot stay silent.” 

He urged parents, families and community leaders to work together and speak openly about drugs and their impact. 

“Let’s hold hands in this fight. Let’s talk about it and share it,” he said. 

Reverend Kolivuso also issued a warning to drug dealers and pushers, describing them as liabilities to the country rather than contributors. 

“To those involved in this dirty business, your days are numbered,” he said. “Stop it. You are not helping yourself, and you are not helping this country.” 

While acknowledging the work of police officers who were doing their jobs honestly, he said the response to drugs required firm action and could not rely on prayer alone. 

“Faith without action is dead,” he said. “We must stand up together, be strong, and speak out.”