Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs is to focus its energy on combatting soaring marijuana use and HIV/Aids problems among indigenous youth.
The Council chairman Ratu Epeli Ganilau says up to 80 percent of drugs users and AIDs sufferers are indigenous Fijians.
He says both issues were key topics at this week's Great Council meeting
He says the problems will now be combatted on a national scale headed by the Government, supported by the Fijian Vanua and the church.
Ratu Epeli says the campaign is critical because those affected are in the 20 to 30 year age group, the country's most productive.
"So from that point of view, we are looking at these people who are going to be our future leaders, so to speak, in the not so distant future. So if we disseminate this kind of information to our people that it is not good for our development if our people are not aware of the very bad effects of HIV/Aids and the excessive use of marijuana then we have real problems."
Ratu Epeli Ganilau
The Great Council of Chiefs was blocked from discussing the role of chiefs in the coup and the charges brought against them.
Ratu Epeli says the issue was not on the agenda, which he admitted he had decided on himself.
The Daily Post says the council was asked to look into the possibility of lessening the punishment against chiefs and people involved in the coup.
The paper says the motion was brought by the deputy chairman of the council and Bau high chief, Adi Litia Cakobau.
She highlighted the case of the vice-president, Ratu Jope Seniloli, another Bau high chief, who is facing serious coup-related charges for becoming the usurper president.
Ratu Epeli says the meeting didn't discuss any matter before the courts.
