A heavy haulage company cannot be involved in any carting of Dangerous Goods on
Fiji roads for a period of 12 months after the Land Transport Authority found
the company guilty of breaching the conditions of the Dangerous Goods (DG) Permit.
LTA’s decision to suspend the Permit is based on the fact that the company allowed
its truck driver to cart hazardous materials knowing full well that he did not
hold a valid DG License.
Under the laws of Fiji, a person can only drive a
motor vehicle carrying hazardous material if the person is a holder of a DG
License.
This driver almost caused a catastrophic chemical spill in Wainibuka River when
the truck which was carrying a consignment of Sodium Cyanide veered off-road at
Savuliliwa Wailotua Kings Roads in Wainibuka, crashing into a stream on March 1st,
2016.
The Authority has booked the driver for driving a motor vehicle carrying DG
without a DG License, and further disciplinary action will be taken on him when
he appears in the LTA Show Cause Hearing on April 27.
LTA
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Naisa Tuinaceva has explicitly stated that the
Authority will not condone such irresponsible behavior and will take harsh
action against any company or driver that fails to comply with the law.
“The
people at this company have behaved irresponsibly and have put the lives of
Fijian people at risk by failing to observe the law - their action is
unacceptable and unpardonable,” said Mr. Tuinaceva. “They have been selfish and
mean because they chose to ignore the law and only focused on making money for
their business. I want everyone who carts DG to know that LTA will not condone
such behavior and anyone found breaking the law will be taken to task.”
Mr. Tuinaceva added that if the chemical had spilled, the effect would have
been catastrophic.
“Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound, so just imagine what the
consequences would have been, had it spilled,” said Mr. Tuinaceva. “Our country
is still recovering from the horrific effects of cyclone Winston and we simply
cannot afford to deal with another catastrophe.”
The Authority would like to remind the public to respect the laws
of the country.