Transportation between the country’s two main islands has taken a hit after five jetties in Vanua Levu were closed due to damages it received from Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Commissioner Northern Joseva Vocea confirmed this during his briefing to heads of Government departments at Macuata House in Labasa yesterday.
Mr Vocea said they had special teams who were tasked to carry out inspection on the jetties on Monday.
“The Nabowalu jetty is partly damaged and the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is working on a temporary structure to restore the flow of goods and services to and from Viti Levu and Vanua Levu,” he said.
“The Savusavu jetty is also partly damaged and we cannot confirm when the structure will be ready. The two jetties in Taveuni- Salia jetty is completely destroyed while Lovonivonu jetty is partly damaged.”
“We have made arrangement with the National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to send a barge and the meantime it’s operating from Natuvu jetty providing that link from Vanua Levu to Taveuni.
“Taveuni Island is totally cut off from any shipping services and communications. And very soon they will run out of food supply and so we need to do something to normalise food supply.”
Mr Vocea said they had looked at Malau jetty as an option but after they went for inspection on Monday, they found out that it was also partly damaged.
“So I have asked my team to travel to Saqani in the Cakaudrove Province to see if that jetty is accessible.
“We are concerned about food security and shipping services so we are doing all we can for our people in the Northern Division.
“We have also received reports of shipwrecks and ten yachts in Savusavu have been completed damaged,” he added.
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Originally published at Fijisun.com.fj on April 13, 2016.