Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says it was the FijiFirst government that gave the approvals for the Laucala Island hangar and another project in Ba in the first place after FijiFirst MP, Doctor Mahendra Reddy claimed that there have been repeated interferences by the Prime Minister’s Office on the decisions of the Director of Environment.
While responding to Reddy’s concerns, Rabuka says it was the previous government that had given the approval and then stopped it.
Rabuka says all the assessments have been done in regards to the Environmental Impact Assessment, but they will continue to monitor.
Doctor Mahendra Reddy claims that the Coalition Government did not allow the Ministry of Environment to carry out its duties as provided for under the Environment Management Act.
He adds this sets a dangerous precedence of the highest office in the government.
Reddy further adds the current approach taken will see every investor having any grievance raising it with the Prime Minister’s Office without exhausting the process laid down in the EMA.
He asks what expertise do staff at the Prime Minister’s Office have to instruct the Environment Ministry to remove the Stop Work Notice.
