THE Fiji Labour Party (FLP) has called on the Government to act urgently as Taveuni faces shortage of fuel and essential supplies following the suspension of shipping services.
The party said supermarket shelves were emptying, fuel supplies were running low, businesses were struggling to stay open and farmers were unable to transport their produce to the market. It said a prominent Taveuni farmer had told the FLP that no supplies had reached the island for at least a week.
“The suspension of shipping services due to ongoing issues has left the people of Taveuni paying the price for a dispute they had no part in creating,” the party stated.
It said the shortage was affecting families, businesses, health services, schools and the island’s economy.
“Essential supplies are becoming increasingly scarce. The fuel reserves are nearly exhausted, businesses are struggling to stay open, and shop shelves are rapidly emptying,” the party stated.
“The people of Taveuni deserve answers. They deserve urgent action, clear communication and a reliable solution. Not silence while the crisis deepens.”
However, Rural and Maritime Development Minister Mosese Bulitavu said the Government was closely monitoring the situation and was prepared to activate contingency measures if required.
“We will activate contingency measures when needed,” he said.
He said they were continuing negotiations with relevant stakeholders and that a resolution on compliance issues was expected to allow services to resume under interim arrangements.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said discussions with shipping operators and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji had focused on resolving issues relating to dry-docking and crewing matters.
Ro Filipe said their focus was on putting in place operationally practical interim provisions while ensuring the continuity of services for the people who depended on maritime transport.
