Fiji sweats on ‘critical test’ as Aussie woman in hospital
The health ministry and police force are investigating the cause of the drink-spiking incident while the last Australian finally left hospital.
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Fiji’s deputy Prime Minister Manoa Seru Nakausabaria Kamikamica said his government is still waiting on toxicology reports to confirm how seven people wound up in hospital after drinking contaminated Pina Coladas at a luxury resort over the weekend.
“I would like to say that the Fiji government is awaiting the result of those tests,” he told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
“As you know, we do not have the capacity to do those tests and the facilities so we had to send samples away.
“They may have come back, but that has not been communicated to me.
“In the meantime, we would like to assure all out attending business that this incident has been localised to one resort, or one hotel, and there’s not been any reason to link this incident to any others.”
“Although there has been branded spirits bandied around as having been the culprit ingredient in whatever they had, that will all have to await the test results.”
He then suggested negative press associated with the hospitalisations may have been the work of tourism competitors.
“We’d like to tell everybody that it’s safe to come to Fiji and we have to find out who has been giving this negative press about Fiji as a destination – are they competitors to our tourist services?”
Fiji’s tourism minister has also expressed “disbelief” that methanol could have been responsible for Saturday’s poisoning of seven tourists.
Four of them were Australian — and the last one has left hospital.
The health ministry and police force were investigating the cause of the incident, Viliame Gavoka told AFP, adding that results from “critical” toxicology tests normally take three or four days.
“Everyone is in a state of disbelief that this has happened,” he said. Asked whether the illness might be related to methanol poisoning, Mr Gavoka said that was “something that we don’t believe is possible in Fiji”.
While declining to speculate about the cause, he said it was a “very isolated incident”.
Fijian tourism, which attracts close to a million people each year, was “typically very safe”, he said.
The minister said he did not believe it was the result of any deliberate action.
Two Sydneysiders who were treated after drinking tainted alcohol, Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, and her mother Tanya, were released from Lautoka Hospital on Monday and immediately returned to Sydney.
Another Australian returned home on Tuesday.
A Fijian remained in Lautoka Hospital in a “stable condition” in intensive care, Mr Gavoka said.
The Suva Pool Bar at the five-star Warwick Resort was empty on Tuesday, but sources have helped reveal the moments that led up to Saturday’s incident when toxic Pina Coladas turned a holiday into a nightmare for four Australians.
The Warwick Resort’s Suva Pool Bar was heaving.
“People were everywhere, it was full. It happened on the adult pool side, everyone was having a good time,” a source at the Warwick Resort said.
“It was Saturday, they were having a party.”
The white shelves on the bar that usually would be filled with dozens of bottles of spirits had been cleared away.
The stylish pool, which overlooks the ocean, still had some people enjoying a swim but there were no drinks in sight.
The Warwick Resort had banned the sale of cocktails.
“People want to order cocktails, they still want their cocktails, they said don’t do the Pina Coladas just do the other stuff,” a source said.
“We have other drinks, there’s beers, there’s Coronas, Asahi, there’s other beers as well and wine, but just don’t risk the spirits.”
The poisonings in Fiji have come less than a month after six people, including Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.
They had been staying at Nana Backpackers, which offered free shots of Tiger Vodka, which is made in Laos, to guests.
The Pina Coladas served to the seven poisoning victims at the Warwick Resort were made with Fiji produced Bounty Rum.
The “tasting notes” on the bottle say: “Clear and bright with a fresh aroma showing hints of vanilla and coconut. Ideal to bring freshness and vitality to any cocktail.”
The drinks also included pineapple juice and a vanilla powder that was a substitute for coconut cream because it was an “expensive” ingredient.
Fiji police have taken samples of the rum and the other ingredients in the tainted cocktails.
The bartender who poured the drinks for the poisoning victims was distraught, a friend said.
“You should see the lady who poured the drinks,” a source said.
“I feel sorry for her, she was really scared. I said don’t worry, you didn’t do anything, you’ve got cameras around.
“It’s never happened before in Fiji, spiking drinks. Especially a family resort, kids are always around, mothers, fathers, grandparents.
“It was very disappointing.”
The Warwick Resort has been a long established hotel on Fiji’s Coral Coast although it was previously owned by another chain.
The company released a statement on Tuesday saying it was “deeply concerned” that seven of its guests had fallen ill.
“As a business that has proudly traded in Fiji for almost 40 years, this is an unprecedented event for us,” the resort said.
“We take the safety of our guests very seriously. We are currently working jointly with the authorities to determine what caused this unfortunate incident.”
The hotel, which charges up to $500 a night, was still taking guests this week, however, it was not full. Guests could be seen snorkelling, paddle boarding, while bus loads of tourists were picked up for waterfall and river tours.
Previous guests who have stayed at the resort said it had dropped in quality since being taken over by the Paris-based Warwick group, which also has hotels in New York and London.
“The Warwick changed immensely,” one former guest said.
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