Asian national's death at Suva’s WG Friendship Plaza under investigation

An investigation is underway following the death of a man at a construction site in Suva yesterday.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro says the 36-year-old Asian national allegedly fell from the fourth floor of WG Friendship Plaza currently under construction along McGregor Road in Suva.

Naisoro says the victim was putting up scaffolding in the lift area when the alleged incident occurred.

She says investigations are continuing.

Engineered Design Principal Engineer Vijay Krishnan who helps with the project management for WG Friendship Plaza says the company is cooperating with investigations.

Engineered Designs is the structural engineering company assigned to adapt the design of the WG Friendship Plaza to local conditions.

Krishnan says initial information they have gathered is that the victim was not wearing a harness at the time of the incident.

He says this is a very tragic incident.

Krishnan says the Construction Manager has also reported the matter to the Occupational Health and Safety Department.

He says they will now have to see what transpires tomorrow because the OHS Department will set the procedures moving forward.

WG Friendship Plaza is a 28 storey luxury hotel and convention centre.

It is expected to have an inventory of over 300 rooms, observatory tower, boutique shopping, healthcare and entertainment complexes.

Construction on the project started in 2016.

The project is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

At least another 18 months is needed to complete the construction of the WG Friendship Plaza.