Police, Christian leaders in North pray to combat crime
Police and Christian leaders in Macuata are joining forces to combat crime in Vanua Levu.
Divisional manager Community Policing, Aassistant Superintendent of Police Ulaiasi Talebula said the focus was on assault, domestic violence, numerous occurrences of burglaries and yaqona theft. Drugs were also top of the agenda because the issue has now become a major social issue in the North. “We need the support of Church leaders to address these issues,” he said.
A meeting was held last weekend and a resolution concluded that members will:
■ fast every Monday from 6am to 6pm
■ special prayer at 12pm every day “So, wherever we are, once it’s 12pm we will say our prayers. “The pastoral network has been revived for the first time after eight years when it was first set up. “We will continue to meet when the need arises to strengthen the network,” he said. Turaga-ni-Yavusa Naseakula, Vasio Bone Bisai, said the initiative by the church leaders and the Police was good news to him. Marama-ni-Yavusa Qawa, Adi Losalini Maikali said: “This is a very good move by the church leaders and the Police.”
She said the crime rate in Labasa especially in Vunivau where she resides had increased compared to the previous years.
She added the abuse of internet usage and the social media platforms especially Facebook among teenagers seemed to be the contributing factors to the rise in crime rates. “One thing that is now out of our control is the drug issues. “The problem we have in the village is most of those who are involved in these crimes have moved out of the villages into towns and cities.
“If someone is caught in the villages, they will be told to move out and find a place to stay.”
Adi Losalini said village leaders needed to engage their youths in certain activities that would avoid them from looking into other ways to get money or fun from.
She added that the churches, the police and the vanua needed to work together in tackling the challenges that Fiji was facing now.
Welcoming move
President of Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Sarju Prasad said the move was very welcoming and it was an important one.
He said they were also working towards the same initiative in trying to combat crimes especially domestic violence. “Religious bodies are now concerned about these domestic issues,” Mr Prasad said.
“Violence within the family circle is one thing that we need to talk about to our people.
“We need love in order to have peace and security but with these crimes and violence, peace and security are not there.” Meanwhile, ASP Talebula said there were plans to start the same pastoral networks in Bua and Cakudrove.