A non-profit organisation stands ready to release $US500,000 ($F1.1million) to assist with the removal of derelict vessels in Fiji waters.
Chairman of the Maritime Environment Joint Committee, Joweli Cawaki confirmed this, saying Waitt Foundation had come on board to assist the committee in this work.
“We started with nothing, but we are thankful that Waitt Foundation has come on, as well as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP),” he said.
“We met Mr Waitt and because the foundation is a private organisation, they don’t give money to government bodies — they only channel to private bodies or non-government organisations.”
The committee comprises representatives from MSAF, Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd (FPCL), Fiji Navy, Fiji Customs and Revenue Services, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Transport, Fiji Police, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Airports, Biosecurity Authority and potentially the Immigration Department.
“Since most of us are government, we have identified FPCL as the private entity that will hold the money for us, so we’re looking at financial governance through FPCL where funding will be directed to FPCL, they’ll hold it under their trust until we have a committee that will determine next steps for spending.
“In our meeting on Wednesday last week, Waitt Foundation has said they’re ready to dispatch $US500,000 ($F1.1million) to start with the first phase. We’re working with FPCL on this, and the committee is refining and reviewing its terms of reference and governance structure so that our documentation is right.”
