Increasing prices of goods and services is not the commercial companies' problem but one that the interim government should look at.
Those are the words of Flour Mills of Fiji Limited Chairman, Hari Punja as he continues to fight his case that FMF's companies have started running on losses due to import duty changes brought about by the Interim Finance Minister.
Punja claims that Chaudhry made a comment in one of the meetings he had with him, where the Interim Finance Minister had said that the poor would be drastically affected if the price of flour is increased.
The FMF Chairman said he has made it clear that this issue is for the government to resolve.
However, Chaudhry told Village News this afternoon that he never had a discussion with Punja that the poor will be affected if the prices of certain items increased.
But Chaudhry said he has made the interim government's stand clear that they are trying their best to ensure that basic food items are affordable for the people of Fiji. He said with this in mind the duty on rice and peas was reduced but he said Punja keeps complaining about these policy changes.
Meanwhile, Punja met with Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama earlier today.
While leaving the PM's office, Hari Punja only told our reporter that he had a private meeting with Commodore Bainimarama. He also said that he told Bainimarama that his company was running on a loss due to the import duty changes.
Meanwhile, Flour Mills of Fiji will not be renewing its sponsorship of the FMF Flying Fijians, when the agreement expires on June 1st, 2008.
FMF CEO Sanjay Punja said the decision not to pursue the sponsorship of the FMF Flying Fijians despite their exceptional performance at the recent Rugby World Cup, was a difficult one but necessary given the tough financial times over the past year and a forecasted difficult 2008.
But FMF has assured the Fiji Rugby Union that they will continue to support grass-root rugby, the FMF Chow Kaji Rugby Championship.
However, FMF has given FRU the go ahead to negotiate sponsorship deals with other potential companies well before the agreement expiry date of 1st June, 2008.
Feature
Increasing prices not companies problem
