Drug traffickers use local ports as a route to transport their illegal goods, says Police Director of Operations Senior Superintendent Maritino Qiolevu.

And in light of this, community awareness programme will help authorities as well as ship owners in curbing this problem, he said.

SSP Qiolevu made the comment during the launch of the Mua-i-Walu Local Vessels and Stakeholders Business Neighbourhood Watch billboard in Suva last Thursday.

Local ship operators lauded the joint initiative by the Police and stakeholders in ensuring passenger safety and maintaining law and order at the Port Mua-i-Walu precinct.

The theme for the launch “Know Your Neighbour” is aimed at creating awareness and communication between members of the public, local ship operators and relevant stakeholders (Maritime and Safety Authority of Fiji and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited.)

Committee member and shipping operators’ representative, Akuila Kaci, said the initiative was positive news because their security and that of their passengers were in good hands.

“We are happy to see the partnership of the Fiji Police Force, FPCL and MSAF in this community awareness programme launch,” he said.

Mr Kaci added with this in place, local operators will be able to implement better services and keep their passengers well informed about the safety regulations during busy travelling seasons like the Christmas holidays.

“Sometimes there are incidents where the vessels are full and the members of the public in their urge to board, jump or push their way through and that is one of the concerns we are relieved about that is being addressed,” he said.

He said that the first priority of all local shipping operators was to ensure an efficient flow of passengers who are boarding their vessels keeping in mind all safety regulations to avoid any tragic incidents.

“We had conducted meetings from mid-August to the end of September for this programme to be introduced and we are anticipating a good response from members of the public.”

The awareness programme launch drew key stakeholders and those present from the public together in being proactive on these issues which were on-going at Port Mua-i-Walu.

SSP Qiolevu said the idea was to build a platform for competent services to the public.

“We want to ensure better approach between the authorities and the public with the aim to maintain law and order at Port Mua-i-Walu,” SSP Qiolevu said.

“This community awareness programme will help authorities as well as ship owners in curbing this problem,” he said.

He also urged members of the public to join hands and help support the initiative in place to joins heads together with relevant stakeholders to minimise these activities.

MSAF representative Joseph Kafoa said safety during peak travelling period was important.

He said: “This initiative will help provide safety on every vessel, especially during Christmas when most members of the public travel.

“This will help us properly address the importance of crowd management control procedures for MSAF for local shipping operators.”

FPCL representative Nacani Voraki said: “We are looking forward to a joint venture to address the drug transportation through this port. This will help us solve the problem to reduce these illegal activities.”