Investigations Underway On Dirty Cloakrooms

Inter-island shipping operators must have good toilet facilities says Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh.

“All local shipping operators must enhance to cleanliness with hygiene remaining important,” Mr Singh said.

He emphasised that unhygienic toilets fall under the compliance requirement of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) element of his ministry.

When approached on issuing a stern warning to operators who engaged in such practices, Mr Singh, said the investigation findings would be vital.

An investigation team will follow–up claims of unhygienic toilet facilities inside some inter-island shipping vessels.

“Our ministry will investigate the issue raised by some passengers,” he said.

“Let us investigate and ascertain the matter, then appropriate action will be taken.”

Interlink Shipping Line Limited manager, Adrial Prasad, refuted to the claims and said they had cleaning staff on board all the time.

He emphasised that cleanliness and proper hygiene remain their priority for customers to enjoy their safe and hygienic travels.

When asked on an allegation of anonymous passenger who travelled in December on the vessel which experienced dirty and clogged toilets.

He said they had a cleaning team made up of four-five staff doing rotational cleaning of toilets every 15 minutes.

“We carry close to 200 passengers on each trip, so some passengers dirty the toilet and leave it unattended for the next person,” he said.

Mr Prasad said this might have caused this issue where the next passenger used the toilet facility at a time when the other passenger had caused clogging and dirty toilet.

“Some small kids use a lot of toilet paper and clog the toilet so attention is required,” he added

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