The Young Fijian Leaders Parliament Forum ended yesterday with members making their contributions in parliament chambers talking about youth issues.

We must thank the Fijian Parliament, the Australian government’s Direct Aid Programme, the Fiji Police Force and NGO Aspire Network for their support.

Youth parliamentarians spoke on their chosen topics and they did well-researched presentations.

Most of them highlighted issues that affected them.

Youth parliamentarian Samuela Rogokaci is a resident of the Fiji Juvenile Rehabilitation and Development Centre commonly known as Boys Centre at Samabula.

He talked about – “juvenile justice – room for improvement”.

The reality they face is that the society has marked them as the bad kids or bad boys, young criminals and even good for nothing.

To give justice to these juveniles, he proposed that all those in custody should go to schools and schools should accept them. Programmes should be in place to help boys in their future planning, skills, talent, mindset and behaviour; Learning where they have gone wrong.

Youth Government leader Saimoni Naitekuru, who comes from Ra, talked about the slow development in his province.

He said many areas of the province did not have proper roads, no access to clean drinking water, proper schools and electricity.

Fiji National University graduate, Pritika Shivani Mala from Lautoka, talked on education for unskilled women.

On education she mentioned two major problems – (a) under qualified counsellors in schools and (b) the behaviour and attitudes of students.

Schools should have qualified counsellors and because of the abolishment of corporal punishments it had reflected on the negative attitudes of students.

All youth parliamentarians raised issues that really needed to be addressed.

Realistically Youth Parliament is as close as possible to the real thing.

We thank the youth parliamentarians for taking this opportunity to talk about youth issues and also to influence Government decision-making.

They also experience the procedures in Parliament and surely they can be future politicians of the country.

The Young Fijian Leaders Parliament Forum will help educate participants about the new parliamentary system, the responsibilities of Parliament and the principles of public accountability.

The programme was televised live and we are all looking forward to the next sitting in August next year.

To all the 50 youth parliamentarians, we congratulate you for your contribution and hope your proposals will be taken on board by our leaders.

Feedback: maikab@fijisun.com.fj