FIJI’S Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially opened the Salvation Army’s new Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programme facility as part of the country’s wider fight against a worsening crisis.
Rabuka said the facility came at a critical moment, as Fiji confronted what he described as escalating drug trafficking, organised crime and substance abuse.
He pointed to more than 2400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025 and reports of drug-related cargo sightings along the coastlines of Vanua Levu and the outer islands in Lau, saying the figures show Fiji’s maritime space has become “a primary conduit for the illicit drug trade.”
“The significance of this facility cannot be overstated,” Rabuka said.
“With the escalating challenges surrounding drug and alcohol abuse, it is vital that we implement pragmatic, timely measures to support our communities.”
The Prime Minister said the state, communities, law enforcement, civil society and faith-based groups must work together if Fiji is to respond effectively.
“The infiltration of drug abuse across our nation cannot be addressed in isolation,” he said.
“We must look beyond the immediate symptoms and confront the underlying social, economic and mental health challenges that drive our people towards addiction in the first place.”
The new programme will combine what Rabuka called an internationally recognised Twelve-Step Recovery Programme with a Positive Lifestyle component that has already shown “encouraging outcomes across the Pacific.”
The facility can accommodate 15 participants at a time through structured day programmes, allowing clients to stay connected with their families and communities while undergoing treatment.
“Recovery does not happen in isolation,” he said.
“By investing in compassionate, evidence-based rehabilitation, we encourage sustainable life-long healing.”
Rabuka also framed the crisis as one that is tearing through homes, schools and neighbourhoods.
Building resilient communities
He said drug and alcohol abuse strains families, weakens relationships and contributes to crime and violence.
The response, he said, must begin “at home, in schools and within our close-knit communities”, with a stronger focus on prevention, resilience and rehabilitation.
Rabuka also linked the centre to Fiji’s broader development agenda, saying national progress must be measured not only in economic terms but in human wellbeing.
As Fiji pursues a target of six per cent annual growth, he said the country must also invest in “the wellbeing, resilience and potential of our citizens.”
He said the facility supports the National Development Plan, Vision 2050 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by offering hope, rehabilitation and a pathway to renewed purpose.
The Pime Minister said the government’s response to drugs must combine “prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, reintegration and community engagement,” describing the new centre as an important part of that wider strategy.
He also tied the initiative to Fiji’s vision of an “Ocean of Peace,” saying lasting security depends on “the wellbeing, resilience and dignity of our people.”
Rabuka praised the Salvation Army for its role in helping the country’s most vulnerable people, saying the centre’s success would not be measured only by the services it delivers but by “the lives it transforms, the dignity it restores, and the hope it rekindles.”
He urged the organisation to maintain “the highest standards of care, professionalism, accountability and compassion.”
He also acknowledged support from the New Zealand Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, saying the partnership reflects a commitment to Fiji’s Duavata Partnership and to tackling the social pressures threatening families and communities.
“Let us continue working together to build a more resilient and stronger nation,” Rabuka said in his closing remarks.
“One where healing is always within reach, where no family is left to struggle in isolation and where every individual is given the grace, the support and the second chance they need to rebuild their lives.”
