Opposition MP Viam Pillay has criticised authorities over the Ellington Jetty incident in Rakiraki yesterday describing it as a “clinical study in ministerial impotence” after passengers were left stranded offshore.
Mr Pillay said the situation, which saw a private vessel occupy the wharf for more than a day, exposed a failure by the Ministry of Transport and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji to enforce the law.
A Goundar Shipping vessel was docked at the wharf and refused to move for over five hours while an Interlink boat, that arrived from Nabouwalu was unable to off-load passengers.
“While a private vessel hijacked a public wharf for 26 hours, passengers… were left stranded at sea because the Ministry and MSAF have effectively abandoned their legal mandate,” he said.
He stressed that under the Maritime Transport Act 2013, the State is responsible for ensuring safe and efficient maritime operations.
“This isn’t a scheduling conflict—it is a total abdication of State power,” Mr Pillay said.
The Opposition MP also pointed to provisions under the Sea Ports Management Act, saying authorities had the power to intervene.
“Authorities have the explicit power to move vessels for public safety—yet you chose to do nothing,” he said.
Mr Pillay claimed the incident reflected a pattern of inaction.
“The repeated nature of these incidents proves this isn’t an oversight; it’s a choice,” he said.
He said both Police and MSAF had been alerted but failed to act, and called for accountability and a transparent review.
“Fiji deserves a maritime system run with the firm authority of the State… not a system run by whoever happens to dock first,” he said.
