Samoa’s fight against illegal drugs and violence is moving beyond the police station, with the government turning to families, villages, schools and communities to stop problems before they become crises.
That approach drove the launch of “Lalaga Le Vā” or "Weaving Sacred Relationships" on Tuesday, bringing ministries and communities together to tackle illegal drugs and violence before they escalated.
The programme is being carried out through PACT Samoa, the National Taskforce on Drugs and Violence.
It brings together the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services, the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The launch was attended by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
