Derelict vessels

THIS week in the news, the Ministry of Environment permanent secretary (PS) was pleading with owners of derelict vessels in the Suva Harbour and Draunibota Bay to take responsibility and remove the vessels.

He further stated that the removal of such hazards is an expensive effort and the responsibility falls on the owners to do so. His ministry will continue to work with other agencies and use legislation to clear the harbour.

The PS said they were in contact with MSAF and had provided them directives in what to do.

He said the challenge they faced was to identify the owners of the derelicts.

However , this cannot be said for the Lawaki Toki disaster on Ovalau that was the result of the cyclone in 2016.

The 1700 – plus tonnes of rusting steel that was manufactured in 1964 remains, covering five metres by 16m and the height of a four-storey building of the lovely beach that was once enjoyed by the residents. The owner is a businessman of Levuka who still operates a shipping company.

There was no mention in any of the recent Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd annual reports about the Lawaki Toki devastation and I do hope that the marooned ship case is not closed as it is more than six years now without any tangible progress and , I believe, there was nil attempt by all stakeholders involved to make this wrong right again.

The huge pile of rusted steel at the Ryders Beach may be with for years to come, polluting the environment and hurting the people if the authorities , who are the guardians , do not take any action. I believe , many on the island have accepted the artificially created esplanade and taken it for granted that they will have to live with the manacle for generations to come because of the inactivity of the relevant ministry.

Like the Vatoa Island case, the Lawaki Toki environment degradation should never have been isolated and ignored by the Environment Ministry.

The PS must respond with a corrective action plan and strategy for the ecocide.

By reading the other related articles on the subject , I believe, the PS has gone past the spirit of the law phase and now must execute the intent of the law aligned with the Environment Act 2005.

There have been numerous letters written on the subject.

SATISH NAKCHED Suva