NEWS

Tourists Claim Signage Misleads Them In Danger Zone

Some tourists who arrived on board the cruise ship Pacific Aria yesterday morning walked straight into the sealed areas in front of the asbestos-contaminated Suva Civic Centre building. This was
04 Jun 2017 16:50
Tourists Claim Signage Misleads Them In Danger Zone
Australian tourists Jean and Anthony Sanders outside the Suva Civic Centre on May 3, 2017. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Some tourists who arrived on board the cruise ship Pacific Aria yesterday morning walked straight into the sealed areas in front of the asbestos-contaminated Suva Civic Centre building.

This was because of inappropriate signage, said an Australian couple who were stopped by the Fiji Sun from entering the area.

Brisbane pair, Anthony and Jean Sanders and many others were wandering about at the Suva waterfront sea wall making their way into the sealed off areas near the building as they had no idea about the threat of asbestos.

Mr Sanders was visiting Fiji for the fifth time and said he enjoyed the waterfront walk past the Civic Centre with the view of sea and the Peace Garden area.

“We in fact thought the seal off was for the traffic for some reason because there just is not any sign outside the restricted area stating hazardous – asbestos,” Mr Sanders said.

Mr Sanders, who retired from the building and waterfront industry six years ago in Australia worked with asbestos in Australia for many years. He said asbestos was very dangerous and was hazardous to people’s health.

“For years industries have denied the truth about asbestos. They knew and they still continued to use it,” he said.

For the Suva Civic Centre scenario, Mr Sanders suggested: “There should be a proper sign to say why the area is not of access because I see our people walking by crossing the ribbons.”

In addition, it was not a usual busy Saturday in the city or at the sea wall yesterday.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback: arishma.narayan@fijisun.com.fj

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