Attack ‘Administrative Obstacles’

A manufacturing exporter has mounted the push for a cultural change within the taxation sector.

By refusing to buckle to industry pressure, Performance Flotation Development Fiji Limited hopes to bring about “much needed cultural change” at Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest lifejacket manufacturer yesterday “respectfully” declined to join the queue of “obstructions” brought about by Fiji Revenue and Customs Services.

Responses from the tax authority and the council were not available when this edition went to print.

Background

Performance Flotation Development managing director Mike Towler has taken to the media to highlight the plight of manufacturers in the administrative processes put in place by the Government. “I have no faith in any other process and I am not jumping through all these hoops,” he said in correspondences to the Textile Clothing and Footwear Council.

“What I am trying to do is change this culture at Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and all of the Fiji Government departments that likes to put administrative obstacles in our way every time we want to develop new business somewhere. “Former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum once told us Fiji was capable of becoming the Singapore of the Pacific.

“We are not in the hunt to do that or even advance towards that goal unless and until we get rid of this culture of creating administrative obstacles for businesses trying to develop new markets, where ever that might be.”

Mr Towler defended his decision by citing a recent discovery.

“Yesterday, I learnt of a new psychological diagnosis called ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).

“There is no doubt that we could all be suffering from this, although it is mainly found in young children with most growing out of it by adulthood, obviously we haven’t,” he said.

“We will never advance in this country until be eradicate this culture of obstructionism and move to one of facilitation.

“Having to comply with ridiculous administrative processes is not the way to go about changing this culture.”

Photo: Leon Lord The largest lifejacket manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, Performance Flotation Development, has put its foot down to end a culture of administrative obstacles across the board.

Fijian business leader Mike Towler established Performance Flotation Development as the largest lifejacket manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere.