MEMBERS of the Lautoka Fishermen’s Association claim they have been stopped from using an office constructed and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in May this year.
Association executive member Mosese Tui said while the $217,000 fish market had been in operation for more than five months, the association’s office had been unused since the opening.
“We were the ones who approached the Japanese Government for help with the construction of the building and the fish market,” he said. “And now that we have the building and the fish market, we are not being allowed to use it.
“We spent about $700 on office supplies and these are kept at my house because we can’t move them to the office.”
Mr Tui claimed officials from the Ministry of Fisheries had informed them that they had to wait three years for the keys to the office.
Principal Fisheries officer West Eroni Talemaikanacea did not offer any explanation on the lockout, but said the association should discuss the matter with the ministry.
