Social welfare officer needed in Rotuma

Police’s Sexual Offences Officer, Unaisi Mateiwai, said it was important for civil servants dealing with sexual abuse cases to report it to relevant authorities.

here is a need for a social welfare officer on the island of Rotuma to deal with children welfare.

This comes as there are concerns about the behaviours of children especially with teenage pregnancies and school leavers.

During the division’s Interagency Committee Meeting, it was discussed that there needed to be a dedicated person to deal with such children on the island.

Rotuma has a population of about 2000 people of which, more than 300 of them are children.

The committee consisted of the Fiji Police Force, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation among others.

The meeting was done in a bid to revive its purpose on the island.

Police’s Sexual Offences Officer, Unaisi Mateiwai, said it was important for civil servants dealing with sexual abuse cases to report it to relevant authorities.

“You have the responsibility to report it. Law is law. It will not spare no and if you are caught, be ready to face its consequences,” she said.

One of the committee members had asked for confidentiality between them and the victims – especially their parents – as they had the sole right to respecting their pri

Tvacy.

In response, Ms Mateiwai said civil servants should report the matter to Police because it was the right thing to do, adding it would spare them from facing job losses and court.

However, she said the report must not be told to members of the public, especially in revealing names of those that might have lodged the report.

“You can get into trouble for that,” she added.