Consumer Council Labels Budget as Healthy for Consumers
Consumer Council of Fiji has labelled the 2018-2019 budgets a healthy budget for consumers to improve their way of life.
This is after the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced the price increases on all imported alcohol, tobacco and cigarettes by 15 per cent.
The Council chief executive officer Premila Kumar said consumers had something to look forward to in the new fiscal year.
She said retailers and traders are not to increase liquor and cigarette price from old stocks.
“The Council expects ethics and fair play by merchants to consumers by not increasing the price of their old stock of goods on which duty has been increased following Thursday’s budget announcement,” she said.
“If a retailer is selling these products from his old stock then it must be sold at the old retail price. “Retailers must uphold business ethics and fair trade practice and do the right thing and not hoodwink the consumers by increasing the price of old stock where duty was already paid,” she said.
She commended the Government for imposing fines on telecommunication companies in the event they failed to deliver the services as expected and paid for.
Ms Kumar acknowledged the FijiFirst Government for introducing the life-saving subsidy (giving help in time of need).
“We are pleased to see the inclusion of other injuries that will be handled by the Accident Compensation Commission of Fiji,” she said.
“Including most vulnerable members such as school children is an excellent move to protect their future if an injury occurs in the school.
“We have been continuously lobbying for the costs of dialysis treatments offered by the Kidney Foundation of Fiji to be reduced and this is a good move made by the Government,” she said. “Telecommunications companies now have further incentive to ensure their promised network coverage is maintained and consumers are given opportunity to access the full service they are paying for,” she said. “We also welcomed the removal of all EFTPOS fees from debit and credit cards. It has been noted that the banks have been double dipping by charging fees to both merchants and consumers for the use of such car
“We are also pleased to see an increase of the plastic bag levy to $0.20 and looked forward to the enforcement of the new provisions for traders who were not entitled to charge Environment and Climate Adaption Levy (ECAL)/ Service Turnover Tax (STT) and Value Added Tax (VAT),” she added.