Fiji Labour Party (FLP) leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he is just flabbergasted at the Government’s lack of concern for the people.
In a statement on the unnecessary hassle, inconvenience and expense people wishing to travel between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are put to because the Government has not streamlined its procedures, Mr Chaudhry said the FLP had
been reliably informed of the hardships people wishing to travel between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu were facing.
He said the Commissioner Central’s office was responsible for issuing passes from Viti Levu and was allegedly imposing strict control on how many could travel at any one time and that there was the further inconvenience of getting swabbed at a medical facility in Suva and then travelling to the commissioner’s office in Nausori to get a travel clearance.
He said a complainant’s wife and daughter, stranded in Suva since the April lockdown, were swabbed four times in two weeks, had booked their travel, but were again refused a pass by the commissioner’s office which claimed the flight was full.
He also said there was an instance last Monday where 35 fully cleared travellers were about to board a ferry at Natovi Jetty when they were stopped from travelling by the commissioner’s office, and were returned to where they had been residing at the expense of the shipping company.
He said on arrival at Nabouwalu all passengers, even those residing in Bua, were taken by health officials to Labasa and then dropped off at their homes for self-isolation.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport had said all intending to travel to Vanua Levu and the maritime islands must be fully vaccinated, registered and in possession of a pass from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services before purchasing their tickets or boarding a vessel or aircraft.
Requests for a response to Mr Chaudhry’s statement were sent to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Health and Medical Services Ifereimi Waqainabete and Commissioner Central Josefa Navuku remained unanswered when this edition went
to press.
