Tui Nayau: Outer islands need safer boats, not miracles

The Vanua o Lau is urging the Government to strengthen maritime transport and safety for Fiji's outer islands following the dramatic rescue of six health workers and a boat handler.

In a statement released yesterday, the Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, Tui Lau, Ratu Tevita Mara, said the incident should not simply be described as a miracle but as a warning about the risks faced by frontline workers serving Fiji's maritime communities.

"Those seven people were in the open sea for some 36 hours, holding onto the floorboards of their own boat, because a fibreglass hull with a 75-horsepower engine is what this country now provides for a medical outreach team crossing open ocean in our Lau waters," Ratu Tevita said.

"One man had to swim alone for hours towards Aiwa to find a mobile signal; that is not a rescue plan — that is a gamble with the lives of the people who keep our islands alive."

Ratu Tevita said the incident highlighted the dangers faced by medical outreach teams travelling between remote islands, arguing that small fibreglass boats powered by 75-horsepower engines were unsuitable for open-ocean voyages.

He said Fiji previously operated dedicated government health vessels for maritime provinces, including the Nasi Yalo Dina and Vuniwai ni Lau, during the 1970s and 1980s.

According to Ratu Tevita, the vessels safely transported healthcare workers between islands before the service was discontinued.

He also revealed that the Vanua submitted a proposal on June 26 for a pilot Vanua Coast Watch programme in Lau to the Prime Minister, relevant ministers, the Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

The proposal recommends purpose-built response vessels equipped with marine radios, satellite communications, tracking systems, drones and other emergency equipment, staffed by trained crews and initially based in Lakeba.

"A vessel of that kind, sitting at Lakeba under the Vanua, would have been there for the Lakeba hospital team to use on their outreach, as any sound boat in our islands serves whoever needs it that day," he said.

Ratu Tevita outlined three key recommendations:

• Reintroduce dedicated health vessels for Lau and other maritime provinces equipped with marine radios, emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and satellite tracking.
• Expand the Government Shipping Franchise Scheme to support more passenger and cargo operators serving maritime communities.
• Fund the proposed Vanua Coast Watch pilot programme.

He said rising fuel costs were placing increasing pressure on maritime transport services relied upon by patients, students, farmers and fishers.

The Vanua also urged leaders to focus on practical reforms rather than politicising the incident.

"Had a proper boat been under them, those seven would have come home on schedule. That is the standard we should be working to," Ratu Tevita said.