A meeting between Fiji Trades Union Congress and PAFCO executives in Levuka on Friday was stopped due to a case of miscommunication.
This has been confirmed by Police Chief Operation Officer ACP Rusiate Tudravu who said their officers acted on a report lodged in Suva regarding the meeting.
FTUC has expressed disappointment after the representatives of the Union were ordered to stop the meeting at the PAFCO Board room on Friday morning.
National Secretary Felix Anthony said the meeting began at 10.15am and at 11.15am police officers marched in, disrupted the meeting saying that they were under orders from Suva to stop the discussions.
Anthony said they were then informed that the meeting will only continue provided the police officers were present during the discussions between PAFCO Chief Executive Officer, PAFCO Employees executives and FTUC executives.
However, FTUC refused the demand.
Anthony further added that the meeting with the PAFCO management was to discuss issues faced by the workers in the fish canning factory which was brought to light during one of their recent meeting with workers of PAFCO last month.
While FTUC condemns the action taken by police, Chief Operation Officer ACP Rusiate Tudravu said following consultations with the Commissioner of Police they instructed their officers to allow the meeting to continue as the case had nothing to do with the meeting that was being held.
ACP Tudravu confirms that the meeting resumed shortly after.
Meanwhile, Fiji Police Force stresses that meetings held in public places will require a permit.
Story by: Praneeta Prakash
