Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has instructed the Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to ensure that Fiji Revenue Customs Authority redoubles its efforts to deal with FRCA’s serious shortcomings.
While opening FRCA day at the Holiday Inn today, Bainimarama said that unfortunately they continue to receive complaints about the poor professional conduct of some FRCA Officers.
He said these complaints are based not only on the unfair treatment of taxpayers but on the inconsistency of certain decisions and unnecessary delays.
The Prime Minister further stated that FRCA in some instances has failed the private sector and every Fijian.
Bainimarama has issued a call today to every FRCA Officer to regard the taxpayer as a customer who deserves to be treated in a professional manner and with consideration and respect.
The Prime Minister then stated that they have similar problems across much of the bureaucracy and that is why they are about to embark on a major reform of the Civil Service across the board with the assistance of the World Bank.
Bainimarama also told the representatives from the private sector that they need to come out and tell the Minister for Finance where there are problems with FRCA.
The Prime Minister said he has also asked the Minister for Finance to investigate how they can make the VAT system a lot more equitable, transparent and efficient.
