The second state witness in the Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Ltd trial has told the court today that after the Prohibition Notice was issued on June 2018, a site inspection was conducted in August where she saw construction of the temporary staff quarters at the proposed resort site in Malolo.
Principal Environment Officer, Senivasa Waqairamasi told the court that an inspection of the site was conducted on 11th August, 2018 to confirm that the development was taking place at the site.
She said she also saw a untarsealed road, a hill being cut, impact of erosion and sediments and earth dug drains.
Waqairamasi also said that she expected the site to be in its natural state according to the scoping inspection in 2017.
She said she expected to see some development but not to the extent where she did not expect to see vehicle tracks and staff quarters.
The witness also said that she saw dead mangroves that died because of build up sediments. She said mangroves are sensitive and do not die naturally.
She also told the court she once again visited the site on the 15th of September, 2018 to confirm that construction material was offloaded on the site and development continued after concerns were raised.
She said she saw movement of forklift carrying construction material to a storage site built in front of the mangroves.
Waqairamasi also said she counted 6 workers transporting the material.
The witness also confirmed to the court that 2 police officers were also deployed to the island after 11th August however, they were not at the site on that day.
She said that upon contacting the Divisional Police Commander, she was informed that the officers had gone home for the weekend.
Waqairamasi also said in her report that the presence of police officers is not sufficient to oversee that any development does not take place on the site.
The trial will continue on the 30th of November.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
