Maritime Travellers Rights Steering Committee,
Commissioners and Senior Government Officials,
Vessel Operators, Boat owners,
Maritime Stakeholders,
Ladies and Gentleman,
Bula Vinaka and a very warm welcome to you all.
It is my pleasure to officially launch our first of a series of Maritime Travellers’ Rights Public Consultation, here, in the Western Division.
I would like to begin by thanking the Maritime Travellers Rights Steering Committee, vessel operators, passengers, businesses and all Maritime Stakeholders for your active participation, support and dedication to our maritime sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Around 10 million people and 25,000 islands are scattered across 4.8 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific region is undoubtedly amongst the most dependent on sea transport in the world.
We’re an island nation of more than 300 islands scattered over 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean, a transshipment hub of the Pacific — connecting other smaller island states to the rest of the world. Our main connectivity, for passengers and cargo, is by maritime transport.
Most, if not all of us, here today have travelled by sea — whether on a private vessel or Government. And not just us, but our entire population. In fact, some travel almost every week, that’s how important marine transportation is to us.
We must also not forget that our maritime regions entirely depend on reliable and safe transportation of passengers and goods. The economy in these islands is affected when the service is not provided on time or when the vessel operators refuse to carry produce.
And we all know there’s so many things we can do better. And that’s why we are here today.
So, while we acknowledge the work of maritime stakeholders and the services they provide, the rights of our travellers also need equal attention.
In an effort to improve services in our Maritime sector, and in recognising the growing fundamental rights of maritime travellers, the Fijian Government is strengthening efforts to provide safe, efficient, reliable and affordable shipping services.
We are taking measures to ensure the right of every person to have reasonable access to transportation. We must, because this is every Fijian’s Constitutional right.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year, the Ministry is working on establishing the National Policy on Maritime Travellers Rights.
With a National Policy on Maritime Travellers Rights what we want to achieve is a balance between the service provider and the traveller. The service providers are able to compete in an environment that is regulated. So, the travellers also need a mechanism that will give protection, a redress mechanism, when there are delays or cancellation of trips by the vessel operator.
The Policy will establish a minimum set of rights for passengers travelling by sea and inland waters, and requires carriers to provide assistance in the event of cancelled or delayed departures. The Policy will also provide persons with disability the same right, as anyone else, to maritime services. This way, we are making the move to create a more considerate and supportive travel environment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Ministry studied and benchmarked a few jurisdictions like the European Union (EU), who have adopted Regulations to confirm rights to passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterways. We are also looking at its application in Australia and New Zealand.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are 3 major components of the Maritime Travellers Rights Policy — the Passengers onboard the vessel, the Cargo; and the Vehicles onboard the vessel.
Through this consultation, we want to hear from all of you — on your perspective on maritime travel — on what needs to improve and what needs to be done — what do you understand as being important to include as travellers rights.
Your input is critical in making this national policy inclusive and robust. A policy that is there for the long-term and that provides guidance for the development appropriate legal framework that protects all travellers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are not doing this alone. Our partners, in this process, are our key industry stakeholders and the MTR Steering Committee, which comprises of Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Consumer Council of Fiji, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and the Office of the Solicitor-General.
We have undertaken consultations onboard our franchise engaged vessels and with Fijians in the maritime islands. These are communities and villages along our Government Shipping Franchise routes, which covers 80 ports.
Consultations have been concluded in Nacula village in the Yasawas, the islands of Vanuavatu, Nayau and Lakeba in Lau, the villages of Nalele, Naqelelevu, Tawake, Wainiika, Vunikodi, Nabouono and Cawaro in North East Vanua Levu to name a few.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s public consultation is to build on this momentum and ensure this policy is inclusive and reflective of practical solutions – solutions that make an impact.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Steering a ship is a complex task, which requires perception, appropriate judgment, adequate response time and physical capability. It is, therefore, our shared responsibility to ensure that seafarers along with governing authorities contribute to the foundation of safe transportation for all Fijians.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I, as an Ambassador for Maritime Safety, and under the leadership of our Prime Minister, will ensure that maritime safety is given the attention and resources it needs.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility — no matter where we go, what we do and who we travel with.
So, I entrust everyone present here today to actively participate in this consultation, as we develop Fiji’s National Maritime Travellers Rights Policy.
Ladies and Gentleman,
The Fijian Government remains committed to ensuring services remain available to maritime communities, as an integral component of our economic recovery and development.
And to everyone here today, I encourage your active participation and valuable contribution to the consultations today.
With those few words, I officially declare the Maritime Travellers Rights Consultation open.
Vinaka Vakalevu, Thank you!