The Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, has expressed concern over the lack of a report regarding secondary school students who were stranded on a vessel in the waters off Vanua Levu on Saturday night. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the transport provider to ensure the safety and well-being of the students utilizing their services.
Radrodro stated, “I will probably ask for the report now that you have mentioned it. They need to ensure that the safety of the students who are using their services is paramount.” He reminded all public service providers of their duty of care and underscored the necessity for other relevant agencies to contribute to public safety.
He added, “We would like to request the relevant ministries and agencies to monitor and comply with their operational processes. We will be consulting with the line ministry regarding insurance for the safety of the students.”
The boat in question was transporting four netball teams, along with three teachers and a coach, who were returning from Savusavu after participating in a netball match. The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30 PM.