13 February 2001

Sir,

The release by the Magistrates Court of 48 suspects accused of terrorists activities in Levuka, is just another nail driven into the coffin of Fiji's Future.

Director of Public Prosecution and Police failure to show up at the courthouse simply displays the serious levels of incompetence existing within these law-enforcement bodies in Fiji. The suspects were accused of some very serious crimes hence, the reasons given for their release under such circumstances simply suggests that "rot" has settled into Fiji's Police and DPP offices.

Such failures can only result from pre-planned activities by people of authority from within these offices, who have a good knowledge of Fiji's legal systems, corrupt government and naïve public. Suggesting negligence is futile, as investigations to prove this will serve no real purpose, as such undertakings are doomed to fail.

These latest incompetent practices seem to suggest: "It is ok to commit crimes". These authorities are actually encouraging crime instead of striving to reduce it. The ineffective DPP and Police are embedding a very sick suggestion into the minds of a population, which has already suffered extreme manipulation by its leaders, for generations.

Once again, the future of our innocent on-looking youth has been exposed to very poor guidance.

All efforts to improve Indigenous living standards (revive Fiji's economy, encourage foreign investment etc) will be to no avail, as long as we have such selfish, narrow visioning and corrupt individuals in our leadership.