HM King Tupou VI will officially open the two-days National Symposium on Illicit Drugs Featured
5 October, 2021. His Majesty King Tupou VI will officially open the two-days National Symposium on Illicit Drugs on the 6th October at the Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf for stakeholders and the public to present ideas that can help inform a national response under the theme, “Working Together for a Drug Free Tonga.”
“This is a transnational problem and is now a problem for Tonga. It is NOT a problem for the police only or the courts only or teachers or church leaders only. It is everyone’s problem and we must address it as such. We must approach it together,” says Lord Fielakepa, Acting Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the National Action Planning Committee on Illicit Drugs.
Following the official opening ceremony, panel discussions focused on the 3 strategic focus areas of Demand Reduction, Supply Reduction and Harm Reduction will feature key figures from agencies such as Police and Prisons, Health, Education, NGOs, Youth and Faith Based Organisations.
“This is a national problem and it calls for a national response. We have received ideas from the public and look forward to constructive dialogue for a way forward,” added Acting Deputy Commissioner Ashley Fua, Secretariat for the National Action Planning Committee.
The 2-days symposium welcomes registered participants.
The symposium will be broadcast and streamed live.
“We are encouraged by the response so far. This is a real and difficult problem but people are sharing ideas and while we will not be able to answer everything over the two days, we are committed to working together and that requires us to hear one another. The symposium moves towards an inclusive national response,” explained A/DPC Fua.
The theme for the National Symposium on Illicit Drugs is “Working together for a Drug Free Tonga.”
