Department Of Environment Issues Prohibition Notice

A team from the Department of Environment with its director Sandeep Singh vis­ited Jim Raiwalui at Nokonoko in Laucala on Friday after he failed to comply with a prohibition notice which was issued to him on June 26.

Mr Raiwalai had cut a few man­groves to build a walkway from his boat to the road at Nokonoko in Laucala.

Ms Singh said people needed to take the environment seriously.

“He has not complied with our prohibition notice after he was informed to submit his rehabilita­tion plan within seven days from the day it was issued. We issued the prohibition notice on June 23rd. He hasn’t done that,” Ms Singh said.

“We have to look at our inspection report and prohibition notice and the non-compliance of the prohibi­tion notice and then it goes through the court process.

“It takes mangroves a long time to grow and they are a very important part of the ecosystem and we want to protect the mangroves through­out Fiji

“When when we see things like this happen, it concerns us and it just shows that some people just don’t care.

“We take this very seriously and they should too. There are provi­sions within the legislation that we administer to take people to court for prosecution. We want people to follow the law and not to take the environment lightly.”

Mr Raiwalui abides

Mr Raiwalui said he would abide by the notice after he was visited by Ms Singh.

“My boat used to be at Lokia but when it is low tide the boat is on land and it gets damaged. I bought this boat through my hard earned money and now I have a license and will be fishing in Lakeba,” Mr Rai­walui said.

“This place is deep so I thought of bringing it here to repair its engine, I have fixed the first one and the second one is being fixed. Once it is fixed I will leave this place. I will follow the pro­hibition office’s notice and will submit a rehabilitation plan.”

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