The Consumer Council of Fiji has proposed to the government to have a Security Commission which will be responsible for looking after the security deposits.
Chief Executive Officer, Premila Kumar said that there are a number of utility companies who are asking for security deposit and millions of dollars are collected if each household pays security deposit for water, FEA and telecom.
Kumar said that the Council has suggested to the government in its 2013 National Budget Submission to establish a Security Commission where all the security deposit will sit and interest can also be generated from it which will benefit the government.
Kumar said that the Electricity Act should be revised and appropriate funding should be allocated in next years budget for it.
She said that Fiji Electricity Authority's regulatory authority and powers should be removed and an independent body should be established to oversee the work of FEA and other energy needs of the country.
Kumar said that this body should take the role of regulator to address consumer grievances with FEA.
The Consumer Council is also calling on for dollar appreciation by 5 to 10% which she said will not only help the consumers and traders but it will also assist the government when paying off its loans.
The Council has also asked the government to review the duty increase on Palm Oil implemented in the 2012 budget.
Kumar said that the Council's survey shows that some retailers, importers and wholesalers are still importing palm oil as re constituted and labeling and selling it as vegetable oil.
She said the government is losing out on the revenue it should have collected from the imposed duty.
Story by: Sneh Chaudhry
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