LTA suspends haulage company for breaching permit
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has decided to suspend a heavy haulage company after the authority found the company guilty of breaching the conditions of the Dangerous Goods (DG) permits. According to LTA the company allowed its truck driver to cart hazardous materials knowing well that he did not hold a valid Dangerous Good (DG) License.
The suspension means the company can not transport Dangerous Goods on Fiji roads for a period of 12 months
A person can only drive a motor vehicle carrying hazardous material if the person is a holder of a DG License.
This driver almost caused a catastrophic chemical spill in Wainibuka River when the truck which was carrying a consignment of Sodium Cyanide veered off-road at Savuliliwa Wailotua Kings Roads in Wainibuka, crashing into a stream on March 1st, 2016.
The driver will appear in the LTA Show Cause Hearing on April 27.
LTA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Naisa Tuinaceva has explicitly stated that the Authority will not condone such irresponsible behavior and will take harsh action against any company or driver that fails to comply with the law.
The people at this company have behaved irresponsibly and have put the lives of Fijian people at risk by failing to observe the law – their action is unacceptable and unpardonable. They have been selfish and mean because they chose to ignore the law and only focused on making money for their business. I want everyone who carts DG to know that LTA will not condone such behavior and anyone found breaking the law will be taken to task.
Mr. Tuinaceva added that if the chemical had spilled, the effect would have been catastrophic.
Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound, so just imagine what the consequences would have been, had it spilled,” said Mr. Tuinaceva. Our country is still recovering from the horrific effects of cyclone Winston and we simply cannot afford to deal with another catastrophe.