The strength of good governance lies in allowing institutions to do their work, respecting the law, and making decisions in the public interest.
Those are the words of Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka as he says he respects the decision of the Department of Environment and the technical process that has informed it, following the rejection of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the proposed Energy-from-Waste Plant and Private Port Facility at Vuda Point.
Rabuka says this matter has attracted strong public interest, and rightly so.
He says it concerns our environment, public health, communities, livelihoods, culture, and the future development of an important part of Fiji.
The Prime Minister says our environmental laws exist for a purpose and they ensure that major developments are tested carefully, transparently and on the evidence.
He says they protect communities, they protect responsible investors, and they protect the public interest.
Rabuka says this decision should not be seen as a rejection of investment, innovation or new solutions to Fiji's waste-management challenges.
He says those challenges remain real, and Government remains committed to addressing them in a practical and sustainable way but every proposal, regardless of its size or investment value, must meet the standards required by law.
The Prime Minister says it must demonstrate that its environmental, social, cultural, health and economic impacts are properly understood and can be properly managed.
He acknowledges the Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Environment, the Technical Review Committee, and the technical officers who carried out their responsibilities through this process.
Rabuka also thanks the traditional landowners of Vuda, the residents of Vuda and Saweni, government agencies, civil society organisations, businesses, technical experts and members of the public who participated and made their views known.
