“SAFETY, safety, safety!”
These were the words of Peni Masau the Boat captain of Leleuvia Island Resort.
Mr Masau has been operating a boat since he was a young boy growing up in his village in Naseara on the island of Moturiki in the Lomaivit Group.
His adherence to safety was grounded the first day his father let him handle an outboard engine.
From preparing the engine, the boat and all safety equipment, his father taught him, never leave the boat without checking the safety equipment.
The 29-year-old, who has been the boat captain for Leleuvia Island Resort for the past eight years, said there were many accidents and many unfortunate incidents when people don’t take safety as important as operating the boat.
He said some think that operating a boat was all one needs to know but there was more to that.
“The first thing one needs to know is how to service the engine. A well serviced engine first ensures safety, that it is capable of taking you to your required destination. The second is the boat, ensuring the boat is in good condition, sometimes boats are just not well taken care of, like frequently taking in water. Third and also very important to ensure safety equipment — from flares, flashlights (working), life-jackets and first aid-kits.
“Most drowning accidents, most are adrift for days weeks, months and some are not found because boat operators don’t take all this seriously. We are dealing with lives, lives matter,” said Peni who has never encountered any mishap at sea.
