Nadi men form group to help Police curb crime in their community area
Twenty years ago, a group of men moved their families from Vanua Levu to Votualevu, Nadi in order to find better education for their children. Now these men have taken up a new role to help their community. The group’s spokesperson, Tomasi Bulai said even though they have been in Votualevu for two decades, they are aware of the burglaries occurring in their area.
Mr Bulai resides with his family and nine other families consisting of 88 people on a piece of land in the area. The majority of them lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are currently struggling to make ends meet.
There are about 20 children in their community who attend primary and secondary schools with some attending tertiary institutes.
About a month ago, Mr Bulai’s brother, Salacieli Tabalailai proposed an idea for the male youths in the different households to assist Police in curbing the ongoing issue of burglaries. Thereafter, they formed a rugby team, portraying what the name of their team signified.
“We formed the ‘know your neighbor, devo barbas’ rugby club about a month ago because it was a meaningful name telling us that we want to help the Police with the issue of burglary,” he said.
“We played our first tournament at the Yacova Niu Ciba Yasawa 7s at Nadovu Park in Lautoka last week and managed to reach the semifinals.
“This rugby club was formed to allow our boys to help the Nadi Police and also with their rugby talent, hopefully earn a spot in the Police rugby team or even join the Fiji Police Force so they can earn some money for their future.”
The men were visited by the team of Police officers and participants led by the former Corrections and Police Commissioner Brigadier General (Ret’d) Iowane Nailavurua following the 2021 Western Division Community Policing Symposium last week.
Police said they had sought youngsters in the area to help them solve the burglary situations.