Waste Management and Pollution Control
On 8 May, 2017 representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) received information regarding the possibility of asbestos exposure on the Civic Building worksite in central Suva.
On receiving this information, SPREP – which has been closely involved in asbestos remediation works across the Pacific region through the European Union-funded PacWaste project – arranged for PacWaste consultant asbestos experts to inspect the worksite.
On 24 May the asbestos experts, contracted through SPREP, visited the site and took samples for testing.
On the afternoon of May 31, SPREP was advised that the samples had tested positive for both amosite and chysotile asbestos. The Director General of SPREP, Mr Kosi Latu, immediately contacted a high level representative of the Fiji Government by phone to advise them of the test results. This phone contact was followed up with a formal communication (via email).
This matter is now in the hands of Fiji officials.
Please be advised that a public statement different to this one, purportedly from SPREP, circulating on social media was not issued nor authorised by SPREP.
For more information, please contact the Fiji Ministry of Labour.
On receiving this information, SPREP – which has been closely involved in asbestos remediation works across the Pacific region through the European Union-funded PacWaste project – arranged for PacWaste consultant asbestos experts to inspect the worksite.
On 24 May the asbestos experts, contracted through SPREP, visited the site and took samples for testing.
On the afternoon of May 31, SPREP was advised that the samples had tested positive for both amosite and chysotile asbestos. The Director General of SPREP, Mr Kosi Latu, immediately contacted a high level representative of the Fiji Government by phone to advise them of the test results. This phone contact was followed up with a formal communication (via email).
This matter is now in the hands of Fiji officials.
Please be advised that a public statement different to this one, purportedly from SPREP, circulating on social media was not issued nor authorised by SPREP.
For more information, please contact the Fiji Ministry of Labour.