A lone prison officer used his own resourcefulness, yesterday to warn a number of people who were out foraging for sea-food down at the Suva Shore may have saved many lives if the tsunami had hit our shores, yesterday (September 30).

Prison Officer Class C (POC) Simeli Koroitubuna who was out delivering mail to government offices said that he had noticed people out at sea looking for sea food and it occurred to him that they had not been warned of the possible tsunami.

“I had just come back from delivering mail to PSC (Public Service Commission) and was informed that everybody was going home because of a tsunami warning, when I noticed that many women and children were still out at sea.

“I stopped and called out to them and asked if they knew that a tsunami warning was in place and they said that they had no idea, I told them to pass the message along and that they must move to higher ground.

“Most of them heeded my call and the majority of them left,” POC Koroitubuna said.

However, what was disheartening POC Koroitubuna said that some did not take heed.

“Imagine, if the tsumani did really hit our shores, all those who didn’t move up would now be dead or injured.

“I hope that next time a warning comes, there are ways to warn those who have already left for the sea.”

POC Koroitubuna said he was glad the tsunami did not strike Fiji, but he felt sorry for the victims in American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga.

The Commissioner of Prison and Correction Services General Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua commended POC Koroitubuna for his foresight.

“I commend POC Koroitubuna for his resourcefulness, his actions outside of his normal duties shows that our officers are adapting well to the paradigm shift occurring within the organization.”

 

www.corrections.org.fj

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