The Suva Port was established with the completion of the Kings Wharf in 1912 and since then the port has played a crucial role in trade.
Even with such success of being the gateway, the port officials encountered incidents such as theft that gave the port a bad reputation to those visiting our shores.
Suva Court chief magistrate, Clifford H. Grant in 1972 said theft at Suva Wharf was a prevalent offence which affected not only the economy of the country, but also the reputation overseas of Fiji.
He had gaoled two men and gave another a suspended prison sentence after they had admitted separate charges involving thefts at the wharf.
“This is a serious offence in respect of which the legislature had prescribed a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment,” he said.
“It is essential that those having access to the dock be deterred from taking advantage of their position by breaching cargo or stealing from ships or the customs shed.”
A 31-year-old unemployed villager of Laqere and Jone Tui, a 19-year-old messenger of Tamavua Village, admitted stealing from a ship.
This was reported by this newspaper on April 19, 1972. The 31-year-old villager had admitted stealing half a bottle of gin worth $2.25 while the messenger, stole a bottle of whisky worth $4.40 from the Newcastle Star while he was at Suva wharf. Inspector Ramesh Prasad said the ship was discharging liquor.
A security officer stationed at the gangway was watching people going on board and leaving. At 9am the unemployed villager, who was working on board as a casual labourer, tried to hurry past the officer. Inspector Prasad said the officer became suspicious and grabbed the man by the collar of his overcoat and after a search revealed the half-bottle of gin in the overcoat pocket.
The unemployed villager told the court he was married with two children. He admitted a previous conviction of shop breaking, entering and larceny in 1960. Gaoled for six months, Mr Grant said he took the small value of the stolen half-bottle gin into account.
Inspector Prasad said the messenger movements made a watchman suspicious also. He struggled with the watchman and tried to run away, but was overpowered.
The bottle of whisky was found tucked inside his shirt. The messenger, a first offender told the court that he was employed by the Department of Transport and Civil Aviation. Sentencing him to six months imprisonment suspended for a year, Mr Grant said he took into account that the messenger was not employed at the wharf.
A 19-year-old stevedore of Laqere also admitted stealing an electric iron worth $13 from a customs shed. Inspector Prasad said that of April 8 (1972) there was a case of electric irons in shed No.12 awaiting collection.
The stevedore who was working at the dock had access to the shed. He finished work at 6pm. When searched at the customs gate, he had an electric iron in his bag.
Questioned by a customs officer he admitted stealing the iron from the case in No.12 shed.
He admitted seven previous convictions and said he was released from prison last month. Mr Grant termed his offence “a clear case of breaching cargo” and gaoled him for 12 months.
