NEWLY ORDERED DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER BRINGS RELIEF, THANKS TO THE A-G
Fiji’s important diving industry is back on track to offer both tourists and working divers the vital medical equipment it needs. Justin Hunter of J Hunter Pearls brought the attention of the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to the alarming lack of a working decompression chamber in Fiji. Mr Hunter was speaking in Savusavu on Monday at the postNational Budget roadshow. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum took immediate action, instructing his staff to contact the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and reported back to Mr Hunter that a new chamber had been ordered.
Mr Hunter’s action will be of tremendous value to the diving industry in Fiji.
His representation covered several stakeholders: as well as the Savusavu Tourism Association and the Savusavu Chamber of Commerce. His eye was also on Fiji’s tourism industry and the development of the ‘Blue Economy’.
“Diving is one of the pillars of Fiji’s tourism industry, a significant contributor to foreign exchange earnings and jobs throughout Fiji,” Mr Hunter said. “There are very few resorts that do not have diving as part of their activities and is a significant component of the Fiji Brand Internationally.
“Scuba diving is safe but accidents happen and we have to have a working chamber in Fiji. “We had a diver at our own pearl farm who got the bends, and we were shocked that we did not have a working facility in Fiji,” Mr Hunter said.
“This is a vital medical component for the people of Fiji as well as an a vital facility to our tourism sector.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s swift action was welcomed by the Savusavu tourism industry, who felt that it showed the Government’s commitment to supporting them and developing the Blue Economy - which creates a culture of resource preservation rather than resource extraction.
Mr Hunter has been promoting ideas for a Blue Economy plan for Savusavu.
He saw it as an opportunity for Fiji to lead the way in this growing area and building on the success of Fiji’s leadership at the climate change conference COP23 in 2017.
“It is encouraging to find that the Government is talking the same language as us,” Mr Hunter said.
“With the sort of quick action they are capable of taking when they see the need, we have high hopes for building a long term sustainable future with their support,” Mr Hunter said.
He finished with a heartfelt thanks to Mr Sayed-Khaiyum for joining the cause.