Radrodro Queries MSAF Annual Reports
Member of Parliament Aseri Radrodro questioned Government on Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji’s (MSAF) Annual Report during the Budget response in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Radrodro says the latest available Annual Report for MSAF dates back to 2013.
“On Fiji Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, a grant of $3.9 million has been granted which is a slight increase of $300,000.00 from last year,” Mr Radrodro said
“The trend of late Annual Report submissions is worrying especially Government’s continued provision of budgetary allocations despite a lack of accountability to taxpayers,” he said.
“Whilst the entities may be meeting its internal reporting requirements, it is disconcerting that Government sees no urgency to demand the same level of accountability to table the necessary Annual Reports in a timely manner.”
Shipping Franchise
Mr Radrodro acknowledged Government’s giving certainty to shipping companies servicing uneconomical routes to remote parts of the country.
Government is granting longer term agreements through the shipping franchise, whereby it is now going to be 15 years, an agreement to be established with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.
“For the Government Shipping Services (GSS), an allocation of $8.6 million has been granted, a reduction of $1.2 million. The reduction in allocation raises questions on Government’s priority to look after the provision of such services for maritime islands,” Mr Radrodro said.
“For the shipping franchise scheme, they have been allocated a budget of $2.6 million, an increase of $.6 million from the previous year’s budget.
“This initiative will give meaningful security to financial institutions to loan to small shipping companies for instance, and in turn allow companies to invest in new ships, therefore ensuring more reliable and efficient services for our maritime
MV Iloilovatu ready to depart for Moala,Totoya and Matuku on February 4, 2020.
islands.
“I now commend that government encourages Private Public Partnership arrangements with yasana (provinces) and tikina (district) holdings or cooperatives to engage in this shipping investment opportunity. “This support of course must come with the necessary training and monitoring to be provided for those that will run these shipping businesses, so that they sustain themselves and be viable in the long run.” MSAF board chairman David Kolitagane said he would not comment on Mr Radrodro’s speech.
“I don’t have any comments before the Minister (for Transport) releases anything at that level,” Mr Kolitagane said.