Fiji Sun

I

- Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrol­a Feedback: com.fj wati.talebula@fijisun.

nter-island vessel,

owner Captain Soniya Thakur is frustrated with the closure of the Natuvu Jetty.

Since there has been no alternate offloading and loading point, passengers travelling on

have been disembarki­ng a few metres away from the closed Natuvu jetty.

Captain Thakur raised her concerns with regards to the safety passengers, luggage and cargo.

“People get on dinghies to get onto our vessel and it is dangerous especially for the elderly and children,” Captain Thakur said.

“People need to be travelling for business and personal reasons; we provide the vessel for them as there is a demand,” she said.

“Since the closure of Natuvu Jetty on May 1, we have been facing offloading and loading problems especially with our passengers who get off from the dinghies on the Natuvu shore and walk to the road to catch the bus for Savusavu.

“After the lockdown we resumed our runs between Taveuni and Natuvu. We have been catering for about 40 passengers daily.”

has the capacity to accommodat­e 100 to 150 passengers, but because of social distancing it has been catering for slightly more than 40 passengers for each trip.

“It is essential for people to travel but those in authority have failed to identify an alternate site at Natuvu for the time being,” she said.

“Travellers need to be disembarki­ng at a safe point. Something needs to be done urgently. The ministry responsibl­e needs to act fast.”

Questions sent to the Minister for Transport Faiyaz Koya yesterday were not answered when this edition went to press.

Mr Koya is also Minister for Commerce, Trade and Tourism.

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