Freshman students enrolled in nautical science and engi­neering programmes at the Fiji Maritime Academy (FMA) this year were yesterday advised to have the right attitude towards their studies and field of work.

Speaking to the newly enrolled students at the FMA yesterday Alpha Pacific Navigation General Manager Saoloto Sosene said there was shortage of staff in the indus­try because there were many with­out the right attitude.

“The industry says that there is a shortage but FMA produces 40 to 70 graduates annually and some people are still moving around be­cause there is no job,” Mr Sosene said.

“From the industry’s point of view, opportunities are there, but you need to work very hard,” he said.

“I read in a paper that one of the companies in Fiji is looking to re­cruit from overseas, the question is, do we have shortage of workers in Fiji?

“Is it true that there is shortage of workers, I’m sure that most of us will agree that there is plenty of graduates, there are plenty of peo­ple qualified to take on these jobs locally.

“The problem is that seafarers are not having the right attitude, the Government has invested heavily in FMA and most of the lecturers will agree that FMA has gone on to be one of the best marine training institutions in our region.”

Mr Sosene said that FMA was one of the best institutions in the Pacific and it was important that students took advantage of it.

“You have an excellent institution for training, you have an industry that is shortage of supply and the missing link is the attitude,” he said.

“I think the FMA is working very hard to push another launch; they are training a lot of locals to be good and be the best officers that will be the best at what they do.

“To become a good officer you need a good attitude.

“This is the training ground; your lecturers will be observing you, Fiji needs quality seafarers with the right attitude.”