Commission invests in its staff
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission encourages its team to enhance and upgrade their skills.
Two of the Commission’s staff graduated from a six weeks Advanced Prosecutions course organised by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Commission chief executive officer Joel Abraham said, “We believe in investing in our people and this course will help the Commission in its prosecution activities.
“Fairness is essential in prosecution and we want to ensure that trader’s rights are not infringed neither are the rights of those prosecuted.” The Commission has a legal team of seven and is considering to expand it.
“The Commission feels very proud of their achievements as it is not an easy thing.
“This shows commitment from their part because it will strengthen their careers and add value to them as individuals,” said Mr Abraham.
Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission prosecutor, Serupepeli Lagilagi, joined the Commission in 2010 as an inspector then became a prosecutor the following year.
Despite the long nights of staying up to read case laws after work and getting a few hours of rest, Mr Lagilagi said the course was worth the sweat.
He believes in tackling challenges to become a better person and an inspiration to his five children. “It was all through the support of my wife that I was able to complete this course,” Mr Lagilagi said.
Ariu Urimati Reo, had joined the Commission in 2003, previously known as the Price and Incomes Board, as a compliance and mentoring officer.
He decided to take a bold step by taking the prosecution course as he wanted understand both sides of the prosecutor and prosecuted. Mr Reo had to move to Suva from Labasa with his wife and two younger children to take this course.
The father of five, like every other father, wanted to upgrade his professional skills to provide more and make his family happy at the end of the day.