National consultations are being held in Nuku'alofa this week on how to tackle the rising problem of illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine. The Tonga Government invited the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIF) to hold consultations to assist policy formation.

Pacific Forum political issues adviser, ‘Alifeleti Soakai said at a press conference on Tuesday, the consultation will support the Government of Tonga in the area of policy formation to combat the problem.

“PIF understands there is a [drug] problem through reports in media and police reports indicating drug use has increased in Tonga. This [drug] issue is not the sole responsibility of Police as they see this as the responsibility of the country and all levels of society,” he said. The Minister of Police had called for the consultations.

The consultations were to be held with all levels of society, startingon March 18 with the Solicitor General and Police Commissioner, and will include the Ministries of Justice, Prisons, Health, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, Customs, Quarantine, church leaders, private sector, youth groups, and civil society organizations.

Soakai said it was important to get their views because drugs affect many areas and this might be the way to address the drug problem.

"We want to know what are the issues from their perspective. For example, civil society organizations, they’re at the receiving end for a lot of these problems; the women’s groups, the youth groups."

“This is a scoping mission at the request of the Minister of Police. And then we will report back with a suggested way forward with the Government of Tonga,” he said.

Soakai said they wanted the views on what are seen as the major issues, what are the gaps and what they can do as an organization, and what this country can do because it involves everybody.

“I’m aware there’s a task force that was created by Cabinet and we’ll be working hand and glove with them."

After the consultation, PIF will take around four months to complete a report and report back with a suggested way forward for the Tongan Government.

Meanwhile, a Stakeholders Consultation on a Draft Strategy Policy to combat illicit drugs will held on March 21 at Tanoa Hotel.