George Goundar, managing director of Goundar Shipping Limited, has voiced a strong stance against the drug crisis impacting Fiji’s maritime industry. During the launch of the new passenger vessel, Lady Daya, Mr. Goundar highlighted the dismissal of 18 staff members due to drug and alcohol issues, reinforcing his commitment to tackling substance abuse among his crew and passengers.
“There is an urgent need for action against drug problems on our vessels,” said Mr. Goundar. “We have zero tolerance for drugs among our crew members, and if anyone is found with drugs, they are not allowed on board the vessel.”
Mr. Goundar noted that drugs have been a significant challenge for the company, with both crew and passengers involved in drug use and sales to the outer islands. “We had just fired a few guys last week for drugs and alcohol, which is very risky for seafarers,” he added.
Despite communicating these concerns to the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), Mr. Goundar criticized the lack of governmental action. “We have raised this issue with the MSAF, but there is no law that the Government can enforce here,” he explained.
In an effort to address the drug issues, Mr. Goundar is advocating for increased police transparency and presence on board. “Kadavu has been a significant problem for us, and we have been asking the police to be more transparent,” he stated. “We can facilitate police presence on the vessel, but it’s regrettable that we can’t take more action ourselves.”
To further combat the drug crisis, Goundar Shipping has implemented mandatory monthly drug tests for all crew members. “Our stance is clear: we will not tolerate drugs on our vessels,” Mr. Goundar affirmed.