Seven officers from the Department of Environment have been appointed as prosecutors.
The officers successfully completed Basic and Advanced Regulators Training that was provided by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Speaking at the appointment, Environment Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy said they were upskilled to carry out the mandate of the ministry in the community.
“With the seven trained prosecutors, it paves the way for the ministry to improvise the enforcement of the four environmental laws that we are mandated to administer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde described the event as a watershed moment.
“To the public of Fiji, and the wider world, that people and companies that infringe Fiji’s environmental laws will be dealt with swiftly and severely,” he said.
“We have the laws, now we have the prosecutors.”
The courses were held over 12 weeks last year.
Mr Pryde said the appointees performed exceptionally well, were highly motivated and were anxious to start.
