[Photo: FILE]

Concerns have been raised about the security of Fiji’s ports following reports of suspicious activity at Vatia in Tavua, questioning whether authorities can effectively track potential threats.

While presenting the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited Annual Report 2020–2023, Standing Committee on Natural Resources member Vijay Nath questioned how effective the current surveillance systems are at major ports like Suva and Lautoka.

Nath also raised concerns about reports of a possible submarine sighting at Vatia, asking whether similar incidents could go unnoticed at Fiji’s main ports.

Vijay Nath questioned whether FPCL has the ability to properly monitor and track containers coming in and out of the country, especially in a public setting where transparency is important unless it involves national security.

“We want to know because this forum is open to public and there’s some question asked how the submarine, which is so-called, from media I’ve seen, that at vatia, right, so is anything such, if happens in the Suva port or in lautoka a, are we fully equipped to monitor and track the containers which come in or go out? “

In response, FPCL Chief Operating Officer Upali De Zoysa says gaps remain, as two scanners bought by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service are still not installed, with plans to place them in Walu Bay.

“So that’s why in Lautoka , Suva port we find difficulty, but we propose to place it in the Walu bay area, which is still under progress. So FRCS will commission these two scanner machines, so with that there is a possibility to detect any kind of illegal drugs or whatever. So that’s the plan, but as a team, now we have already formed a committee meeting, so we are going forward.”

He adds that once the scanners are in use, they will help detect illegal items like drugs, but concerns remain about gaps in security and the need to improve monitoring systems.