POLICE has warned youths from the Raiwai, Raiwaqa and other neighbouring areas to refrain from using the Raiwai gym located along Kia St as a drinking place.
Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said although they had received complaints from residents living along Kia St about the place being turned into a pub almost every weekend, the police department had not received a formal complaint from residents.
Ms Naisoro said since the Raiwai gym was registered as a private property, people could be charged with trespassing if they were arrested from the area.
“It is an recurring problem and we cannot arrest anyone because no one has filed an official complaint regarding people using the gym as a drinking spot,” Ms Naisoro said.
“But this should be a warning to those who frequently visit the place to stop that practise as they can be charged with trespassing,” she said. Concerned resident Epineri Waqabaca told this newspaper that the once well maintained gym had now become an eyesore for residents.
“These people who come here to drink have ripped this place apart, they have stripped off one side of the fence and also taken down window frames trying to sell it to scrap metal companies,” Mr Waqabaca said.
When The Fiji Times team visited the place yesterday, a taxidriver was also at the gym where he said three youths had stopped his taxi from upper Kia St and made another stop at the gym to load a sack full of window frames.
The three youths later travelled to Nanuku settlement in Vatuwaqa where they tried to sell the metal window frames.
“They could not sell the window frames so they asked me to come back here and told me to wait so that they can get the taxi fare.
“But after seeing this place, I knew that they do not have any money on them,” the taxidriver said.