Minister explains trend

CHILDREN go missing in Fiji around the school holidays, says Defence Minister Inia Seruiratu.

He said this had been a trend for a number of years.

He made the comment after conducting an analysis of missing children data from 2014-2019.

During the reporting period, a total of 723 people were reported missing in the country and of this number, 37 children remain missing.

Mr Seruiratu said the majority of missing children cases were reported during the months of January to March, August and also from September to December.

In 2019, 13 children went missing in January, February had 16 and 18 were reported missing in March.

In the period SeptemberDecember, 2014, 36 children were reported missing, 52 went missing in 2015, 47 in 2016, 38 were reported missing in 2017 and 41 in 2018.

“This trend has been consistent throughout the reporting period.

“The investigation highlights the circumstances surrounding it stems directly following school holidays, major social events and peer pressure.”