Fiji’s drug problems will plunge the country into a state of hopelessness if not tackled head on, Women’s Minister Lynda Tabuya said as she reiterated her call for the death penalty for major drug lords – despite criticism from the opposition and human rights groups.

She said Fiji was facing a problem of addictive illegal drug use and therefore a “loud and clear” message needed to be sent to drug cartels and traffickers outside Fiji’s borders.

“You are not welcome, you cannot profit at the expense of our people,” she said.

“We will do whatever it takes to protect our borders and our people, especially the most vulnerable like our children.”

Ms Tabuya said the death penalty is not a new concept and is already being applied in countries such as Singapore, China, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

“The death penalty for murder applies in 27 of the 51 states in the US, a country known for its human rights record.

“While I have raised this publicly as Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, charged with protecting our vulnerable groups, it is a call to action to consider the seriousness of this problem and the need for deterrence against this crime.

“It is topical now that we are carrying out the revision of the Constitution of 2013. Note also that the death penalty was in our laws and although abolished in 1979, it was only removed from our penal codes nine years ago, in 2015.

“We need a deterrent and if we are serious about tackling the drug problem, that is reducing supply, demand and harm, then as a sovereign state we must consider all options and legislate accordingly.”