Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Premila Kumar

Municipal Councils are working closely with the Fiji Police Force and is using mechanisms to support the force in its fight against substance and drug abuse in municipalities.

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Premila Kumar says a meeting was organized between municipal councils, Market Vendors Association and the Fiji Police Force to address the concerns raised by the association.

Kumar says all 12 councils under the Market for Change Project has set up a crime prevention committee.

Systems in place to promote the committee objective is that the committee meets regularly to discuss crime-free programs, reports to the police force on any suspected activities and seeks police force participation in regular meetings for information and advice.

Kumar also highlighted an incident where the Market Vendors Association reported the matter of juice vendors selling drugs and cigarettes.