Transport Events

The Honorable Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport- Faiyaz Koya visited the Land Transport Authority Headquarter earlier today to touch base with Executive Management and the LTA Board on some important key agenda for the Land Transport Authority to niche in its role as a regulator in the transport sector. These key agenda included:

• • • • • • Stable school service by the Bus Industry with the recent announcement of school opening.
          • Open Taxi Rank System Implementation
          • Review of LTA Act and Regulations
          • Review of the Defensive Driving Course modules
          • Data Sharing
          • Integration of the LTA Systems

The Executive Management and staffs were overwhelmed with the visit and thanked the Minister for highlighting the areas where they can enhance their functionality.

The MV Cagivou departed the Government Wharf this afternoon on a 14 day charter service for Ministry of Justice, ensuring that island court sittings are held efficiently. The Interministerial involvement by FCCC, Department of Water and Sewerage, Itaukei Affairs, and Fiji Police to maximize the trip for their respective interisland core operations shone out during departure. 36 governmental employees decentralizing government services were on board, as well as 3 tonnes of merchandise to assist the scheduled operations in Lau and the Lomaiviti Group.

Over 70 percent of Fijians use public transport, with over 1,470 buses and hundreds of boats and taxis, carrying over 210,000 students and 50,000 senior citizens amongst others. With more demand comes greater responsibility to the environment. The Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport led discussions with the Fiji Bus Operators Association to discuss key areas that aid in better, more sustainable services.

 With most bus companies operating for generations — the Ministry is working closely with the industry to transition to green transport, while addressing impacts of COVID-19.

To ensure maritime island have equal access to food and fresh water — with equal rights to economic participation – Government Shipping Services vessel Bai-Ni-Takali recently worked with the Ministry of Fisheries and Government of Japan. Through our partnership, we visited marine fishing communities to deliver eight solar-powered freezers to villages in the Yasawa including Natawa, Wayalevu, Gunu, Vuaki, Naisisili, Dalomo, Bukama and Yasawa-I-Rara. These villages also received solar-powered freezers.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTTT) is held a nation-wide consultation with its Minibus, Rental and Hire Permit stakeholders on 17^th March 2022 in Suva, 22 March 2022 at Lautoka Girmit Centre and for Northern Division on 24 March 2022 at Labasa Civic Centre.

The consultation provided an opportunity for Land Transport stakeholders to express their issues not only operations but also with the LTA. Stakeholders were also encouraged to suggest areas of improvement to better the services to the public. The collaboration is to boost the industry and meet the needs of our daily commuters while also making it easier for our PSV operators to do business.

A number of recommendations were made to enhance the minibus, hiring, and rental business in Fiji, which were accepted by the Ministry and LTA while ensuring collaboration with the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), and Municipal Councils.

The building, installation, and maintenance of Aids to Navigations (ATONs) across Fiji waters is one of the key responsibilities of our Government Shipping Services, in collaboration with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.

 These ATONs are designed and controlled to make navigating boats and ships safer and more efficient. These ATONs include lighthouses, buoys, fog signals, and day beacons, to name a few.

 The preliminary evaluation for the Lighthouse began in the West before the maintenance work commences.

Following the launch of the 10-year Strategic Development Plan (2021-2031) for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, our Ministry participated in the consultations for the Central Eastern Division to assist in the drafting of their 5 Year Division Development Plan.

 This plan is aimed at integrating other Ministries current and future development project/programs to lay forth a shared vision for all Fijians, particularly in our rural and maritime areas, to promote economic opportunities, sustainable lives, climate and disaster resilience, and security.

We were pleased to be part of the formal inauguration of the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre’s Pacific Electric Outboard Engine Demonstration Project.

 The Minister of Fisheries, Hon. Semi Koroilavesau; in his key note address in to the people of Nakalawaca Village, stressed the importance of sectors contributing to global efforts to achieve the #SDGs and reduce #GHG emissions in order for countries to meet their National Determined Contributions targets.

 This first of its kind initiative for Fiji and the Pacific is part of our commitment as #climateleaders to transition to green shipping to ensure the marine industry’s long-term sustainability and resilience.

 The European Union-funded initiative will also provide secure, accessible, fast, and economical marine transportation to the women’s club in Nakalawaca Village.

The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, participated in a virtual regional capacity building workshop on the development of a regional plan of action for the Second Decade of Action, which was hosted by UNESCAP yesterday, in order to develop a Regional Plan for Road Safety in Asia and the Pacific.

 The goal of this meeting was to share experiences and achievements from the first Global Plan of Action (2011-2020), as well as to recommend relevant priorities for inclusion in the regional plan under the umbrella of the Global Plan for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) and to provide feedback on the ESCAP study.

 Moving forward, the Ministry will be conducting a technical working group meeting with key stakeholders responsible for Road Safety in Fiji and will proceed with aligning the targets of the Regional Plan in the development of Fiji’s 2nd Decade of Action Plan.

Both co-chair countries (RMI and Fiji) as well as our Pacific island countries Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu attended the virtual “talanoa” session to discuss the way forward in developing a roadmap for the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) Initiative, with the ultimate goal of reducing fossil fuel use in marine transportation by up to 40% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. As a result, the goal necessitates a reform of our marine industry, as well as financial collaboration with bilateral and international aid.

For this initiative, a more consistent stakeholder approach is necessary, thus the technical support team will organize another Talanoa session with inter-country and ADB next week to explore finance alternatives and provide consulting for the regional focal point.

The Ministry was part of the Consultation by Waitt Institute on Blue Economy with FPCL, MSAF, Fiji Navy and FMA.

The Ministry through the Department of Transport was part of the 4 days training on the Port Safety and Security Seminar. Three of our staffs namely Ms Kesaia Masirewa, Ms Kacaraini Mucunabitu and Mr Joshua Biulailai participated and were awarded certificates.

Fiji’s Ministry of Economy, Fisheries and Environment had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Waitt Institute and in partnership had launched the program the Blue Prosperity Program on 3 December 2021. The Workshop was facilitated through provision of Welcome Remarks by Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Economy (Climate Change & International Cooperation Division) and Waitt Institute.