Water safety

THE threat of water safety is a great concern to the nation as lives are recklessly lost because of many factors that need to be addressed seriously with immediate effect.

People travelling in open fibreglass punts and open boats that do not adhere to the MSAF instructions are in breach of the marine regulations and recently there were few deaths recorded because of incidents at sea.

The regulations state that the punts must carry safety appliances such as life jackets, have survey certificates to indicate that they have been surveyed and classified seaworthy. The operator must have a valid Boat Masters Licence and be equipped with other accessories such as flares and so forth.

The boat must have number of passengers authorised to travel and the duty of care is with the boat operator who has the authority not to carry anyone who does not heed instruction such as not wearing the life jacket.

In the maritime zone and other rural places where this is the main mode of transport this would be a challenge due to very little awareness in the community.

I believe the MSAF has a huge task to disseminate such information to the public in their current rate of execution as they need to be more aggressive in their educational drive to ensure adherence.

However, I wish to express my disappointment when a government minister in a newspaper report and Facebook this week was seen travelling in an open punt with her staff dressed in a beautiful flowery attire and a sun hat and without any life jackets on.

She was travelling early in the morning to Yacata in Cakaudrove inspecting schools and seemed to be in a joyful mood with a grin on her face.

I believe she was also accompanied by other officials and may have been exposed to the risk of drowning should any mishap occur. I believe that this mode of travel is governed by the Fiji Maritime and Safety Authority of Fiji where the ministry vigorously tries to educate people on water safety.

We see our ministers as people who are the custodians of the laws and they must set ethical standards for the nation to follow. If she and the team had worn life jackets probably the signal would have gone to the people that everyone must adhere to the law and no one is exempted or is above.

It is also worth mentioning that previously I believe a particular minister who donated a fibreglass boat to a school was seen on the TV news taking a joy ride on it without any lifesaving equipment.

The relevant authorities must come down hard on this and the message must get across to the public on the requirements of safe travel on water.

SATISH NAKCHED

Suva