Having price control on items is a very archaic way of assisting the low income earners in the country.
Attorney General and Acting Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said government's decision to reject a proposal from the Prices and Incomes Board to include the 24 items under the Counter Inflation Act by the end of this month, was necessary.
Sayed-Khaiyum said 146 items have also been removed from price surveillance and this is to ensure that competition determines the best prices for consumers.
Sayed-Khaiyum said more can be achieved both for consumers and businesses with competition which is now evident in Fiji's telecommunications sector.
PIB had announced earlier this month that they were proposing to add another 24 essential household items under the Price Control list following a directive from the government. PIB had given 14 days for submissions.
However, Sayed-Khaiyum said the Finance Ministry sits on the board of PIB and a policy decision has now been made that the 24 items should not be included in the Price Control list.
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PIB proposal rejection necessary: AG
