In Fiji, the Ministry of Education has dedicated a national week-long program in all schools to raise awareness on this pressing issue, with the theme; “Be Responsible, Make the Right Choice and Stay Away from Drugs.” Photo: Noa Tuivunilagi
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is commemorated globally on the 26th of June, to enable dedicated time for conversations, action, and tackling the drugs issue in our communities. In Fiji, the Ministry of Education has dedicated a national week-long program in all schools to raise awareness on this pressing issue, with the theme "Be Responsible, Make the Right Choice, and Stay Away from Drugs.” This campaign comes at a critical moment, directly targeting those who stand to lose the most: our children and youth, who remain the most vulnerable to the reach of substance abuse.
One of the interesting indications of the numbers from the drug crisis here in Fiji shows that it is bound to a demand from wealthier nations in the Pacific. Placed at the epicenter of Pacific geopolitics and serves as the region's primary mobility hub. Pacific Island nations like Fiji are no longer transit points on a narcotic highway; it has now become an active logistics hub and storage ground for international drug syndicates. For an island nation of fewer than one million lives, the scale of this threatens our social fabric, our culture, and our future.
This geopolitical reality was laid bare at the recent Pacific Transnational Crime Summit, which has sparked collaborative action between the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police. AFP leadership has openly admitted that “Australia's insatiable appetite for illegal drugs... is putting significant pressure on our Pacific family.” This honest admission helps us see the issue through the lens of global connection and shared responsibility. It reminds us that the challenges our families and villages face are often connected to vulnerabilities far beyond our shores, calling for greater solidarity and support from our wealthier neighbours.
To understand how the Church meets these modern-day pains in Fiji, one only must look at the pastoral work being done in St. Pius X Parish in Raiwaqa, under the guidance of Columban priests, Fr. Vincent Ratnam and Fr. Felisiano Fatu. Photo: Fr. Felisiano Fatu
Bringing this message closer to heart, the Gospel reminds us that Christ never leaves the vulnerable to stand alone against overwhelming forces; this issue touches our human dignity, impacting families, and is the very core of our Catholic Social Teachings. Catholic Social Teaching insists on the option for the poor and vulnerable and calls for solidarity—reminding us that when one part of our Pacific family hurts, we all hurt. The response of the Church cannot be one of judgments or stigma. Instead, the Gospel calls us to look at those caught in the web of addiction with eyes of radical compassion, building communities of healing where the broken can find sanctuary rather than shame.
To understand how the Church meets these modern-day pains in Fiji, one only has to look at the pastoral work being done in St. Pius X Parish in Raiwaqa, under the guidance of Columban priests Fr. Vincent Ratnam and Fr. Felisiano Fatu. During the 2026 Easter season, the parish chose to take their faith outside the safety of the church walls and bring it directly onto the streets. Organized by the Columban Companions in Mission (CCIM Raiwaqa) and supported by the Fiji Police Force, close to four hundred parishioners walked through the humid morning heat of their neighborhood for a profound "Ecological Ways of the Cross."
The Columbans used this public pilgrimage to bridge the historical passion of Christ with our contemporary Pacific realities. As the heavy wooden cross was carried through the streets by a diverse group of children, youth, and senior citizens, it became a moving symbol of solidarity.
In closing, illicit trafficking in the Pacific is more than a criminal issue; it confronts us with a moral and social challenge. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis reminds us that wealthier nations have a responsibility when their consumption and demands contribute to harm in poorer communities. We cannot allow the Pacific to bear the consequences of problems driven from elsewhere. As a church and society, we must respond with compassion and action, supporting our youth, strengthening families, and creating communities where people can seek help without stigma. By standing together we can foster healing, dignity, and hope for Fiji and the greater Pacific.
Noa Mervyn Tuivunilagi, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Coordinator (Region of Oceania)
