The director of Tonga's Women and Children Crisis Centre has made a passionate appeal for the country's leaders to meet to discuss the growing problem of methamphetamine in the kingdom.
Photo: Wiki Commons
'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said the use of meth or ice is rampant in the country and the impact can be seen among the people that come to the centre for help.
She said children have been referred because of addiction, meth-related suicides have occurred and numerous domestic violence cases involving users have been seen.
Ms Guttenbeil-Likiliki called on the leaders of the country to step up.
"One of the biggest voices in Tonga are the church leaders and I would even extend that to say the biggest voice would be the king and the royal family. I would humbly request that the royal family, the king, members of parliament, the heads of our church, get together and say - this is enough, it's starting to destroy our nation," 'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said.
Photo: RNZI/Koro Vaka'uta