MORE police officers will be pushed forward to jetties and wharves to ensure compliance of restriction measures to avoid overcrowding which was witnessed on Monday night in Suva.
This was highlighted by Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho after hundreds of people who had queued up at the Mua-i-Walu port to board the Lomaiviti Princess IX which was scheduled to depart for Vanuabalavu.
When a team from this newspaper visited the site, people could be seen lining up without practising social distancing after the Government’s decision to lift the restriction on inter-island travel from Monday.
Brig-Gen Qiliho said police were present at the jetty, however, a sudden heavy downpour that occurred while boarding was taking place led to the sudden rush for shelter inside the boat.
“We are also calling on shipping operators to assist ongoing efforts by implementing measures that will ensure their passengers or those utilising their services are able to maintain physical distancing.”
He said police would continue to work with officials from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) and Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd to ensure all measures were adhered to.
Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd CEO Vajira Piyasena said they were only allowing passengers with tickets in order to prevent over-crowding within the wharf area.
Meanwhile, Goundar Shipping Ltd managing director George Goundar said they had done their part with the health teams on board.
He said if people could not follow the law, he could not police this.
He had earlier stated that his team would use hand-held thermometers to test the temperature of passengers and they would also provide hand sanitisers onboard.
