A-G meets stakeholders on border reopening

THE Attorney-General and Minister responsible for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum recently met with border control agencies, the tourism sector and the Health Ministry to discuss COVID-19 border control safety measures in Nadi.

Discussions centred on the implementation of safety measures at the Nadi International Airport, including the various hotels, before the announcement of the reopening of Fiji’s international borders.

The A-G highlighted some of the Fijian Government’s plans and also stressed the importance of ensuring safety among our front-liners, tourists and all Fijians.

He added that every stakeholder will play a critical role when international borders open as Fiji will not want to close its borders and hotels again - creating strain on everyone.

“We don’t want that, we want to be rather methodical and sure of our steps and open up our borders properly and rebuild. It is critically important that everyone participate in this - we are already creating the soft and hard infrastructure to cater to the thousands of tourists that we are expecting.”

The A-G said that the only hotels that should be allowed to operate are the ones that agree to adhere to the various requirements under the protocols to facilitate safe travel.

A question and answer session was also held with the Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong, where stakeholders were able to clarify key issues regarding the COVID-19 Safety protocols, plans and other measures that will be implemented when international borders reopen.

Meanwhile, the A-G also visited the new Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab in Namaka, which is able to produce COVID test results within a 24-hour period.

The lab is based in an ideal location as it is in close proximity to the Nadi International Airport and will also boost COVID testing in a fast and timely manner.