Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jone Usumate
Fiji and her people need the best shipping services so that problems faced in the past do not continue.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jone Usumate made this comment in his contribution during the debate to amend the Maritime Transport Act 2013.
The bill was to amend the Maritime Transport Act 2013 to allow for the issuance of coasting-trade licenses for a period of up to 20 years instead of one year.
Usumate says it was time Fijians particularly in the Maritime islands, started travelling on better ships.
“We want better ships in this country. I have taken my children to Lau or the kaumatanigone and my children have slept on the floor. I have had to carry one of my daughters when she was around class three, under an umbrella sitting on a kerosene drum for the whole night because the ship was crowded. I don’t want that happen to anyone else. So how do we address this problem? Come up with solutions so that we can have better ships. Obviously this is very good for all those who want to invest in this particular sector.”
Usumate also clarifying that the license will be on ship basis and not transferable within a company to different ships.
The bill was passed with 26 votings for it, 22 saying no.
Four did not vote and one abstained.
