Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has assured people that police will ensure the safety of everyone and will not allow unscrupulous elements to disrupt the water supply or operations of Water Authority of Fiji by union activists.
Qiliho says their officers have been on high alert to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand.
Qiliho says he would like to remind everyone that no strike has been approved and any such action is illegal.
The Police Commissioner has made the statement after concerns were made about possible water disruptions by activists.
Qiliho also expressed his disappointment at representatives and supporters who used what appeared to be an old interim court order from last year to gain entry to the Wailoku Depot.
He says officers went in and explained to the people gathered inside that they had been deceived and they subsequently agreed to move peacefully outside and commended them all for their cooperation.
Qiliho adds that while the majority did cooperate, more than twenty people were arrested in Lautoka for allegedly illegally gathering and refusing to disperse when advised to by police.
WAF protester at the Kinoya depot
The Police Commissioner has also expressed his concerns that the union and workers had been misled by news from a fake Facebook page, which led to this impasse.
He says any individual holding a position of leadership needs to be responsible and cautious about the information they choose to disseminate to the media.
Qiliho added that the next process of advertising the new jobs is now underway, and he would strongly advise people to understand the law and not be tricked into following those with agendas by being part of illegal gatherings and strikes as it could hinder their chances of securing employment.
While addressing of more than 200 Water Authority of Fiji workers whose contracts expired yesterday, FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony said that in Lautoka Police removed workers from the depot and when the workers were moved to a land that belongs to the union, Police came and removed the tent and arrested some people.
Anthony also says that when the lawyers went to represent those arrested workers they were not allowed to be present when the workers were being interviewed.
He says it is not the job of the police to intimidate and instill fear in people.
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