There is disbelief & helplessness in this country with the way prices are increased in the pumps – Gavoka

SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka says as they sit in parliament today, there is a sense of disbelief and helplessness in this country with the way prices are increased in the pumps while Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Gavoka always says we must do something however he has not been able to produce a single alternative budget since 2014.

While speaking on the debate on the Consolidated Review Report of the Fiji Commerce Commission 2016-2017 and Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission 2017-2018 Annual Reports, Gavoka says it must become a matter that commands the attention of the leadership of this country and parliament.

Gavoka says they are ready to work with the government to set up a bipartisan committee to look at ways of bringing down the cost of petroleum products in Fiji.

He stresses we cannot just blame the distribution system.

The SODELPA Leader adds we can increase our fuel storage capacity as Fiji only has about two months of reserve. He says we can also set up storage within the Pacific.

In response, Sayed-Khaiyum says Gavoka thinks the solution is in just having a committee where members get sitting allowance, talk to people and find a solution.

Speaking on the issue of storage capacity, Sayed-Khaiyum says they will never be able to match the amount and volume of fuel that New Zealand or Australia buys and nobody will be willing to put that kind of money upfront.