37 kids missing
723 cases reported to police since 2014
AN alarming 37 children remain missing in Fiji from the 723 cases reported to police over the past five years.
The statistics for those unaccounted for since 2014 include 23 females and 14 males.
The revelation was made by Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs, Inia Seruiratu in a written response to questions asked in Parliament by suspended Opposition MP Pio Tikoduadua on August 8.
He said children go missing because of an impoverished home environment, lack of support and traumatic sexual, physical or mental experiences in or outside their homes.
He also said the cost of investigating cases of missing children was “astronomical”.
A STAGGERING 37 children remain missing in Fiji from the 723 cases reported to police since 2014.
This information is contained in the parliamentary answer provided by Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs, Inia Seruiratu in response to a written question that was asked by (now) suspended Opposition parliamentarian Pio Tikoduadua on August 8.
Mr Seruiratu said the 37 remain missing from 2014 to 2019, and out of this figure 23 were females and 14 were males.
He said during this five-year period, 686 have been found and accounted for, while 37 remain missing.
The Eastern Division recorded the highest cases of children still missing at 20, the Southern Division has nine, the North has five, and three are from the West.
Mr Tikoduadua had asked for a detailed police investigation report on missing children and teenagers from the period 2014–2019.
Children are defined as those being under the age of 17. The breakdown shows 150 children went missing in 2016, the highest number recorded.
Out of this, 116 were females.
The iTaukei ethnic group dominates the numbers of children still missing — at 26 — with a dramatic surge of 13 recorded in 2019.
Mr Seruiratu said 21 of the children were between the ages of 13 and 17 years.
In his answer, the minister also explained why children go missing.
“Children do not receive adequate support or attention from homes that lead to their erratic behaviour and they undergo traumatic experiences in or outside their homes sexually, physically or mentally,” said Mr Seruiratu.
He also listed “impoverish home environment and children who are mentally retarded and lack home support” as reasons children had gone missing.