Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has revealed that if there is a 0 percent rate placed on basic food items, the importers from overseas make a lot of money because they increase their sale.
Rabuka says he started the VAT before it came at a flat rate and no items were 0 percent rated and it was placed on every item in Fiji.
He says Mahendra Chaudhry’s government took away the VAT on basic food items and it resulted in the money coming into government being reduced.
He says most of the food that we are importing are engineered meaning there are so many things being added to them and they are the guilty elements to the non-communicable diseases.
He adds that too many things that are added into those foods cause obesity, high blood pressure and all other diseases that risks our lives.
Rabuka says if we resort to our natural food that are organically produced instead of buying food products that are imported from overseas, it will help us save our money and stay healthy.
When asked about the 15 percent rate being increased, Rabuka says he has not made any decisions yet as he has to look at the proposals but it is too high.
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