A prominent shipping tycoon has taken a firm stand against the drug crisis impacting the maritime industry in Fiji. At the launch of the new passenger vessel, Lady Daya, George Goundar, managing director of Goundar Shipping Limited, announced the termination of 18 staff members due to drug and alcohol issues, emphasizing his dedicated effort to combat drug abuse among his crew and passengers.
Mr. Goundar stressed the urgent need for action against drug problems on his vessels. “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,” he declared.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, Mr. Goundar revealed that drugs have posed a major challenge for the company, with both crew and passengers involved in drug use and sales, particularly to the outer islands. “We had just fired a few guys last week for drugs and alcohol, which is very risky for seafarers,” he mentioned.
Despite raising these concerns with 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 response to the ongoing 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 said. “We can facilitate police presence on the vessel, but it’s regrettable that we can’t take more action ourselves.”
To further address 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.