MP: FRCS Bill sets ‘dangerous’ pattern
OPPOSITION parliamentarian Niko Nawaikula said the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) (Amendment) Bill 2020 passed in Parliament at its last sitting for 2020 would set a “dangerous precedent”.
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had said the Bill was in relation to the collection of loans that had been disbursed to the tune of $30 million through the Concession Loan Assistance Scheme for MSMEs.
“Essentially, it gives the FRCS specific but similar powers that it already has in relation to other areas of financial transactions, so this is specifically in relation to these loans,” the A-G had said.
“So you need the enabling environment within the law, the enabling provision within the law, for FRCS to deal with this specific area of funds that have been disbursed and, indeed, for their ability to collect it.”
Mr Nawaikula said his fear was that the Bill would shift responsibility away from banks.
“I feel rightly that the responsibility of assessing loans and collection should be left at that, where it is,”the Social Democratic Liberal Party parliamentarian said.
“The other concern that I have is in relation to Section 32C, which is the garnishee order.
“We all know that in relation to collection of debts, you are required first to go to court to prove it and that goes through a process.
“That allows the person, who owes, time to appear before court and to disprove whether a debt is actually paid.
“It is dangerous, in my view, in this case where the CEO or a person who is employed by FRCS, is allowed to do what is normally done by the court. “That is a very dangerous precedent.”
The motion was voted on and passed.