The Fiji Council of Churches is pleading with the government for a piece of land to build a rehabilitation center immediately.

General Secretary Reverend Simione Tugi says that even a readily available unused building owned by the government would suffice.

Rev. Tugi explains that their partner, Drug-Free World in the US, is ready to invest in managing the rehabilitation center but needs either a facility or a piece of land for this purpose.

He says there are hopes that the government will consider this request.

Rev. Tugi emphasizes that the drug problem in Fiji is of serious concern and that admitting people to Saint Giles is not the solution.

“There is a lot of land owned by the government, a lot of properties, and many buildings are currently empty. We need these resources immediately for rehabilitation. Saint Giles is not a rehabilitation center; it’s a hospital.”

He adds that people visiting Saint Giles are not properly rehabilitated due to the nature of the facility and tend to cycle back to it.

Rev. Tugi insists that a proper rehabilitation facility should be prioritized and established now.

Meanwhile, the government has been actively discussing the need to set up a rehabilitation facility to support those affected by the drug problem.