CONTROVERSIAL Fijian ferry operator George Goundar has ramped up his ongoing fight with the country’s maritime authorities and warned local media to “check their facts”.
Mr Goundar posted on the Goundar Shipping Facebook page over the weekend, claiming the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji’s cancellation of the certification of one of his female captains was without justification and demonstrated “double standards”.
He also insisted the capsizing of one of the company’s early vessels, Lomaiviti Princess II in Suva Harbour early last month was nothing to do with Goundar Shipping but occurred when Fiji Ports Corporation was attempting to move the 1980-built ferry, which had been laid up since 2019.
“The vessel was sunk during its removal by Fiji Ports,” Mr Goundar posted. “Goundar Shipping Ltd had no involvement whatsoever [his emphasis] in the sinking of the vessel. Any suggestion to the contrary is entirely false.
“We encourage you to direct your questions to Fiji Ports regarding the circumstances of the incident. The Honourable Minister is fully aware of the facts.”
The Fijian Government condemned what it said was Goundar’s negligence of the vessel which violated multiple environmental and marine safety obligations. Minister for Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Minister for Public, directed that a thorough maritime investigation be conducted into the LP2 incident to ascertain the cause of the incident, determine responsibility, and identify any gaps in standard operating procedures.
Mr Goundar has repeatedly clashed with FPC, MSAF and the government over vessel safety, operations, registration, technical standards as well as local media such as the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and The Fiji Times. He has also come under attack from island community leaders.
In the weekend post Mr Goundar said: “We call on all parties to stop spreading misleading narratives.
“Goundar Shipping Ltd stands for truth, accountability and transparency – and we expect the same form all media entities and public officials.”
At time of writing there had been no response to Mr Goundar’s latest allegations, some of which DCN has chosen not to publish.