Police help with social distancing at LTA’s Downtown Boulevard branch in Suva
Police officers from Totogo Police Station had to intervene to ensure social distancing practices at Downtown Boulevard in Suva as people queued up to visit the Land Transport Authority office.
Police Commissioner Brigadier-General, Sitiveni Qiliho has called on members of the public to exercise responsibility even in their absence.
“If we are called to a situation where people are failing to comply or adhere then, we will have no choice, but to arrest those who are not complying,”Mr Qiliho said. “However, everyone should be mindful of their actions because failure to do so impacts others which is why we have called on people not to be selfish.”
Maika Tamani of Macfarlane Road, Raiwai said: “These crowds could have been avoided if branches were still open all around the country. Now a bigger problem is being created and everyone is at risk if we are not precautious.” Arvind Chand went to LTA Nausori yesterday to pay the wheel tax for his vehicle. He said he finally made his way out of LTA at 1.30pm. “The line stretched from the front office all the way
to the back. I was frustrated, and I posted a picture on Facebook. When I did this, a manager from LTA who knew me came to me and said I would be served, but I refused and said I would wait for my turn because there were other people waiting in line.”
LTA has closed its Korovou, Nakasi, Nadi, Sports City and Navua branches. Meanwhile, LTA has denied that the queues were
because of closure of its branches. In a statement LTA said: “In fact, for the safety of Fijians during COVID-19, we have limited the number of customers who can enter our Customer Hall at any one time in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines on physical distancing.”