Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities Captain Timoci Natuva (first right) chats with stakeholders during the opening of the MSAF office at Port Denarau yesterday. Photo: MINFO NEWS
nadi
The Maritime and Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) yesterday opened its new office on Denarau Island, Nadi.
The authority is expected to open two offices in Labasa and Savusavu later in the year with plans to open offices in Taveuni and Nabouwalu in 2015.
The Denarau office will raise awareness on existing and new legislation, survey registration of new vehicles and issuing of mariner and vessel licensing certifications.
The office was officially opened by the Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Captain (Navy) Timoci Natuva.
Captain Natuva described the new office as a “stepped change” from the containerised facilities MSAF had occupied for a number of years on Denarau. The office has been opened to improve the quality of maritime services provided by authority and enable enhanced of maritime stakeholder and citizen compliance.
It is also expected to support enhanced maritime safety, security and protection of the marine environment.
MSAF chief executive Neale Slack said the new office network was connected with the main server and systems.
“We will be able to access these services here as opposed to sending the documents to Suva and getting it processed and sent back to this location,” Mr Slack said.
Captain Natuva said the intention was to standardise the MSAF offices in terms of look and feel and also enhanced levels of customer service.
“In the current era of state reform, everybody agrees that decentralisation of government is a good thing,” he said
He said whilst the Bainimarama Government may appear to be focused on national and regional issues, it takes a balanced approach, in also promoting adequate and efficient provision of services, essentially local in nature.
Right training essential
Providing staff with ongoing training and right policies for practices and procedures, will reap desirable results.
Maritime and Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) chief executive Neale Slack made these comments yesterday as the authority opened its new office on Denarau Island.
He said once staff feels valued and go through the processes, one will clearly understand the line of work and be able to work more efficiently and effectively.
“The challenge is getting the right people at the right time, the needs of the industry keeps moving, keeps changing all the time,” he said.
Decentralise services
Mr Slack said there is also a need to move out to the people in the communities and offer services as most people cannot come to central areas
“We have realised that we need to take the services out to the people and the communities. They cannot come to Suva and this is part of our strategy to decentralise services,” he said.
“We will now have a more substantial office, we can deploy staff into these locations as opposed to operating in a small containerised building.
“We currently have seven staff members here but we have the capacity for about 15 more.”
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