Page 29 - IB January 2022

People People

Colin Philp Photo: zoomfiji-cinematography
COLIN PHILP: CONSERVATIONALIST,

BUSINESSMAN, SAILOR

By Netani Rika

Just before Christmas, 20 Fijian children spent a week
of the school holidays learning how to sail in the waters of
Laucala Bay.
Under the watchful eyes of the Uto Ni Yalo Trust volunteers,
they learned how to tie knots, sail a twin hulled drua (canoe)
and the basics of Indigenous culture which link the sky, the
land and the sea to humanity.
They learned to battle the wind and the currents, to ap-
preciate nature.
In a hospital bed 3000 kilometres away, the inspiration
behind this sustainable sea transport initiative – Colin Philp – With a shared vision of saving the planet and protecting the
battled against the liver disease which would claim his life on ocean, the couple ensured efficient waste disposal, farming of
Christmas Day. organic vegetables, planting coral and combining tourism with
After the week-long training, students signed up to become conservation.
volunteers on the Uto Ni Yalo, Fiji’s ocean voyaging canoe. “Climate change is having a big impact on communities and
Philp had long advocated for a training scheme which would marine ecosystems, so it’s important that tourism embraces
allow island dwellers to appreciate their ocean heritage and conservation efforts and understands the role of conservation
help them work towards sustainable sea transport and protec- in combating climate change,” Philp said in an interview.
tion of the environment. Philp was destined to live a life inextricably linked to the
“An island is like a tea bag,” he once said in an interview. sea.
“What you put on land will end up in the ocean.’’ The son of a naval architect Tony Philp Senior, who relo-
Philp managed the Leleuvia Island Resort with life partner cated from Australia, and Ana Kafoisolomone Wainiqolo from
Lee-Ann Lee and they operated the family company, Drua Vanuabalavu but of Tongan heritage, Philp grew up on the Bay
Marketing. of Islands in Lami.

Islands Business, January 2022 29