BAF Engages RFMF in Termite Control Operations

The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) will engage Republic of Fiji Military Forces personnel to assist in its Asian Subterranean Termite (AST) control operations for Lautoka and Labasa.

BAF chief executive officer Michael Macdonald Bartlett said talks have started to seek RFMF help.

The AST swarming period is normally from August to October. “This is not cheap, I’ve got the budget there and it’s about $3million worth of work that will be needed to do it,” he said.

We will still keep treating houses because if we don’t, people are going to lose their dwellings they’re gonna lose their livelihoods and it’s going to be a financial impediment from which the Fiji Government and local communities will find hard to dig their way out of. Michael Macdonald Bartlett BAF chief executive officer

“BAF has spoken with the military to see if it could help us with this. We’ve also had numerous meetings with other government departments about their role in this,” Mr Bartlett said.

“We hope the military will be interested in being trained as biosecurity officers, termite recognition because the plan we have is more like a military operation than a pest and disease issue.” Discussions were held during the termite control stakeholders meeting at Commissioner Western’s conference room in Lautoka.

“We will still keep treating houses because if we don’t, people are going to lose their dwellings they’re going to lose their livelihoods and it’s going to be a financial impediment from which the Fiji Government and local communities will find hard to dig their way out of,” he said.

He said the operation strategy involved baiting, trapping and surveillance.

“The new technology that we’ll be using is things like bait traps, so you go to the perimeter of where you know that you have termites, you put baits up to ascertain whether you have the insects there. This includes tree injections,” he said.

Members of the public must take the initiative to inspect their homes for parts infested with AST. RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai said he was yet to receive any correspondence from the BAF, however the RFMF would certainly help if the request was made.

“We’ve always been there, we have always provided our support, especially in Lautoka but if that comes up then surely we will send soldiers down to get trained. The onus is on Biosecurity to initiate that,” he said.