Fiji's opposition SODELPA party is critical of what it says is the government's lack of care over the dangers posed by asbestos.
Photo: 123RF
The Fiji Government has shut down work on the renovations at the Suva Civic Centre, but only after concerns about asbestos were raised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental ProgrammeSPREP in Samoa.
The party's general secretary, Litia Qionibaravi, said people's safety was foremost and questioned why the Ministry of Labour and the City Council didn't issue warnings sooner.
She said they knew of the risks more than three weeks ago.
Suva Civic Centre. Photo: Suva City Council
Litia Qionibaravi said efforts were ongoing to try to inform people to stay away from the central city site.
"Our youth gave out masks to people around the Ratu Sukuna Park and people around the Suva bus station this morning so that people who had not heard have become aware of the risks," said Litia Qionibaravi.
She said that the area had been cordoned off, but many people were still not aware of the risks.