Shipping companies must partner with govt
While most passengers on inter-island ferries would be maritime people heading home for Christmas, ships must prioritize cyclone relief teams and supplies instead.
Shipping companies must cooperate and partner with Government as it works to provide relief to communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
In a meeting in Suva on December 22, the government has asked shipping operators to prioritise cyclone relief deployment teams over holiday makers.
During the festive season, many urban dwellers head to the maritime islands for Christmas and New Year.
At a meeting with ship owners on December 22, Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management and National Disaster Controller David Kolitagane said the government would deploy 7,000 ration packs to the Eastern Division.
“I know you have Christmas customers too who want to go across, but all we need is if we can be given some priority.”
– National Disaster Controller David Kolitagane
“We just need good partnership and cooperation from our stakeholders.”
Mr. Kolitagane said deployments would take place once repairs on infrastructure were completed. This after teams from the Fiji Roads Authority were deployed for maintenance works on the damaged infrastructure in the Eastern Division last night.
“The immediate tasking right now is to depart for the Eastern Division as soon as possible. For the Northern Division, we will be sending our second deployment and we are also hiring some vessels and we also need them filled up properly especially if government is paying.
He informed the group that the government’s two main areas of concern at the moment was the Northern and the Eastern Divisions.
“In the coming days, the Government would be deploying more food rations, equipment and some critical assets to these two divisions.”
The Ministry is advising members of the public to be understanding of any delays in commercial shipping as the government is working on mobilizing emergency and humanitarian support to areas affected by the category 5 cyclone.
The Maritime Safety Authority has deployed two officers to mobilize shipping movements in Nabouwalu in Bua.
