FIJI’S Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has reiterated the importance of taking heed of weather warnings and instructions issued by authorities.
As he officially opened the new $1.2million Labasa Meteorological Service office on Thursday, Mr Bainimarama said while such facilities brought the best and latest technology in weather forecasting one would find anywhere in the world, added that even the best technology would not always get predictions spot-on.
He said sometimes, a serious cyclone warning may go out, but all one would experience was the light rains of a low-level depression; and other times, storms may intensify over a very short period of time.
“That is why every Fijian needs to always treat every warning issued by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Meteorological Services extremely seriously,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“I know making storm preparations can be time consuming, but it’s far, far better to celebrate a near-miss after undertaking the proper preparations than it is to be caught unaware and unprepared for a serious cyclone.
“So please, listen to ministry officials and treat every storm warning with the seriousness it deserves.”
