About 5299 homes, with a population of 19,144, are in a termite infested area in Nakasi and Davuilevu, a Fiji Government gazette released last week reveals.
Prime Minister and Minister for Public Enterprises Sitiveni Rabuka has used his powers under the Biosecurity Act 2008, and on the advice of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and the National Disaster Management Council, to declare parts of Nakasi and Davuilevu as a biosecurity emergency area for Asian Subterranean Termites.
The declaration is in force for a period of six months from June 17.
“Any movement of all stages of the Asian Subterranean Termites including eggs within or out of the declared biosecurity emergency area is strictly prohibited,” states the gazette notice.
“Any movement of any material hosting the Asian Subterranean Termites within or out of the declared biosecurity emergency area is strictly prohibited unless the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji provides prior authorisation for the movement.”
The gazette states Asian Subterranean Termites can be found in soil, potted plants, wood, logs, timber, lumber, kindling, planks, wooden building materials, wooden furniture, live plants, harvested host plants (pine, mango, cassava, coconut and sugarcane) and articles made of cellulose (books, papers, clothing, and textiles) that have been stored for a period of time.
“Pursuant to sections 79(3) and 94 of the Biosecurity Act 2008, any person who contravenes any direction made pursuant to this Declaration, commits an offence and is liable to the penalties prescribed under Schedule 5 to the Biosecurity Act 2008.”
