The Ministry of Environment will not give any approval to any investor whose proposed venture will damage the environment.

The Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy did not mince his words when responding to concerns raised by farmers of Taveuni, whereby the issue of the Qamea Reef Project was raised as farmers of Taveuni and Qamea indicated their opposition to this proposed reef project.

Minister Reddy assured these farmers that any proposed development works or businesses that damaged and disturbed the ecological balance of the environment would be rejected for the benefit of our future generations.

“If an investor wants to come and invest in Fiji, they need to apply with the Fiji Investment Bureau, then they’re given a permit to explore. They’re exploring it and then they will submit to the Ministry of Environment for an Environmental Impact Assessment, that’s where it is at the moment.”

“There’s no approval given and the Ministry of Environment will not give any approval to any investor who will damage our environment, including the reefs,” he said.

“Take my word, the Ministry of Environment will not give any approval to any investor who will do any damage to our environment, whether it is the reef, or mangroves, to our ecosystems or to our biodiversity, we will not allow for any projects to adversely affect our environment.

“There is no development there, nothing, they may be diving and exploring but no development will happen there that has a negative impact on the environment,” added Minister Reddy.

“If the community does not support it, either way, they’re just exploring it, whether its exploration of iron-ore at the Sigatoka river mouth, they’re just exploring it, nothing more, nothing less, but I want to reiterate that no one will touch that reef, no one will be allowed to touch that reef, simple as that,” he said.

-Ends-

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