Wharf

The wharf is out of operation after it was damaged during Cyclone Tino on Friday.

Rotumans have since taken to social media calling for the relocation of the wharf to the other side of the island at Motusa.

The Director of Fiji's National Disaster Management Office, Vasiti Soko, said it would look into the relocation once it received an assessment report from the local commissioner.

The Samoa Shipping Corporation suggested a Bed and Breakfast facility for the inter-island wharf where ferries pick up passengers travelling between Upolu and Savai'i.

Earlier the minister responsible for the corporation, Papali'i Niko Lee Hang, told local media he would ensure that no public funds went to such a project because the government should not compete with the private sector.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has now told KHJ News the cabinet will make the final decision and no proposal has been formally presented.

During a budget debate in parliament he said studies showed Vaiusu Bay, 16 kilometres out of the capital, was the best spot for the wharf which had been mooted since the 1970s.

According to Tuilaepa, consultations will start when funding for the large project is secured.

He said the government did not want to take up soft loans to build the new port which is why it was taking a while to secure grant funding.