Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai expressed deep disappointment regarding the grounding of the RFNS Puamau. This incident has led to significant criticism of Fiji’s Navy, particularly since the vessel was a gift from Australia, valued at approximately $20 million. The vessel ran aground on Fulaga Reef in Lau just a month after it was commissioned.
“I was disappointed,” Ro Kalouniwai stated. “We just received a million-dollar asset that was gifted to us, and it got stuck on the reef. So we really had to ask ourselves, what went wrong?”
He explained that the RFMF headquarters would lead an inquiry into the incident. “There will be a court martial process for the captain of the ship, who must be held accountable for the mismanagement of the Puamau,” Ro Kalouniwai noted.
The inquiry will involve reviewing the aspects of mismanagement during the voyage and determining whether standard operating procedures were adhered to.
Ro Kalouniwai emphasized that this process is crucial for maintaining discipline within the RFMF. “We have our own discipline process, but given the situation at hand, it necessitates a court martial to implement disciplinary action.”