Boat Operator In Taveuni Pleads For Jetty To Be Fixed And Used

A passenger boat on Taveuni is pleading with the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) to repair and reopen Black Point Jetty, Lovonivonu to provide ease of service.

The jetty was closed in 2020 fol­lowing an accident when a truck fell into the sea as a result damag­ing part of the jetty.

In a release on October, 2020, FRA said while the jetty was closed un­til further notice, it could only be used small boats to berth.

In the interim, commercial boats can berth at Tavuki Jetty, Wairiki.

Tavuki Jetty is commonly known by the islanders as Salia Jetty.

Lovonivonu and Wairiki are about a kilometre distance away.

Grace Prasad Shipping and Land­lords director and Taveuni Prin­cess, Captain Soniya Thakur, said one of major reasons she’s pushed for this was after numerous com­plaints from passengers.

“Passengers find it difficult to use Salia Jetty,” she said.

“When bigger boats arrive, they are given the first chance and so other inter-island ferries have to use the sides of the jetty,” Ms Thakur said.

“Passengers like expectant moth­ers and the elderly find it difficult to load their baggage, cargo and even get inside the boat.”

Another inter-Island ferry ser­vice provider is Hari Chand, own­er of Suncity Ferry Services.

He said he has been also using the Tavuki Jetty since 2015.

He has no issues because he has two boats serving the people of Taveuni.

In a followup with FRA, chief ex­ecutive officer, Kamal Prasad, said the alternative to Black Point Jetty was Tavuki Jetty.

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