The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment David Boyd says that the Ministry of Environment is seriously under-resourced.
Boyd highlighted this after he noticed that the Department of Environment only has 5 to 6 staff who handle waste and pollution related matters Fiji wide as part of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Unit.
He says that Fiji is a regional leader in recognizing the right to a healthy environment, ratifying the multilateral environment agreements, and ratifying the human rights treaties.
Boyd says that Fiji needs a strong Ministry of Environment to fulfill those commitments.
He says that other departments and agencies with environmental responsibilities also need more resources.
Fijivillage has sent questions to the Minister for Environment Doctor Mahendra Reddy. We are still awaiting a response.
